Heathrow and Gatwick are private, British Airways is private, so its got nothing to do with the Government. The decision by BA was probably made for economic reasons, the Heathrow slots could probably have been used for more profitable flights. If the demand was there another airline could have used their slots for flights to Ghana from Heathrow. Problem solved for people wanting to fly to Ghana from Heathrow. Sounds like a fit of pique from the Ghanaian government to me.

it sounds like you're agreeing: the move was made by the brits because the former colony wasn't bringing in enough money anymore

It wasn't made by "the brits". It was made by a private company called BA. Do you understand that people are individuals?

Is this going to be said whenever a British company has a dispute in another country?

As long as Russian companies cannot fly into EU (and I guess British) aerial space, never mind landing on the airports located there, any such discussion of “you see, this is a private matter only, there’s nothing the Government could have done about it even if it so wished” is besides the point.

They could have just instructed the Heathrow operators “assign X slots for companies A, B, C and that is that”, the same way they’re telling aviation companies “you cannot fly to Moscow, and that is that”, it is all about political will at the top.

Russian companies are being sanctioned because their tax money pays for the war in Ukraine.

What an idiotic way of approaching aviation economics.

Heathrow's owned by a Spanish company called Ferovial....

Could you explain just how you are standing 'with Ghana on this'?

As an aside: I'm pretty damn sure that if something wasn't 'bringing in the money anymore', that Ghana would immediately fuck it off right out the window. As would anyone/anything else.

And just how should the Brits own up to their colonial past?

A fucking parade? Or, perhaps fix roads that ambulances STILL can't get down?