[ 2014-07-23 ]

Bringing back national carrier: We will be ‘third time lucky’- Dzifa Ativor
Government says events leading to the collapse of
past national carriers will provide vital lessons
in ongoing attempts to establish a third one.

Minister of Transport, Dzifa Ativor said
government is hoping to be “third time lucky”
in guaranteeing the survival of the new airline as
efforts are being made to ensure that, mistakes
leading to the folding up of Ghana Airways and
Ghana International Airline, are not repeated.

Bad management practices have largely to blame for
the flop of the first carrier, Ghana Airways. This
led to the formation of Ghana International
Airline (GIA) in 2004 by the government, in
partnership with a group of private international
investors.

It commenced operations on 29 October 2005. The
government of Ghana owned 70% of shares while the
US consortium (GIA-USA) controlled 30%.

However, a protracted legal dispute by the
shareholders in 2006 led to the eventual collapse
of the airline.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM,
Wednesday, Ms. Dzifa Ativor noted that, it is in
the interest of the country that the defunct
national airline is resuscitated to promote the
national agenda of becoming the business hub of
the West Africa sub region.

“We need a national carrier to support our hub
concept…to make sure that Ghana remains
attractive to foreign direct investments,” she
said.

She assured that with the new public private
partnership programme, government has decided to
cede significant amount of shares to the private
investor while it controls a “small interest”
which is yet to be determined by cabinet.

That notwithstanding, Ms. Ativor maintained
“government will have a say in the running of
the airline”.




Terminal 3 at KIA

She said expansion works at the Kotoka
International Airport which includes the
construction of a third terminal are to be
completed by 2016, to cater for the ever
increasing passenger stream. KIA, which was
originally built to cater for 500 passengers a
year, is now doing over 2 million, the Minister
stated.

The Terminal 3 is expected to be ready for use by
March 2014, Ms. Ativor disclosed.

Kumasi & Tamale Airports

Ms. Ativor further announced, travelers to the
Ashanti Regional capital of Kumasi will be able to
make night flights to and from the ‘Garden
City’ by Christmas of this year.

Those who travel to and fro that part of the
country by air hitherto, have to rush to catch
their flights because the airlines do not operate
at night.

With the installation of the ground lights almost
complete, travelers will be able to go about their
business and catch their flights without a rush,
she assured.

She said a new runway is being constructed at the
Tamale Airport as part of efforts to upgrade it
into international status. This is because the
existing runway does not have the capacity needed
by large carriers to operate.

Other airstrips are being built in Ho and other
parts of the country to facilitate domestic
travels, she added.

The Minister said all these are in line with
vision of President John Mahama in bringing air
transport services to the doorstep of the people.

Source - Joy News

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