[2] The airline was set up in 2004[3] as a partnership between the government of Ghana and a group of private international investors.

A team of executives led by Ralph Atkin, founder of SkyWest Airlines in the United States, was installed, which also included Brian Presbury, the former CEO of Kenya Airways.

Ghana International Airlines commenced operations on 29 October 2005[4] with daily flights between Accra and London Gatwick Airport using a Boeing 757 wet leased from Ryan International Airlines.

The airline commenced seasonal service to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2006.

It is owned by the Ghanaian government (70%) and US consortium (GIA-USA) (30%), but the shareholders have been engaged in a protracted legal dispute since 2006.