Kofi Adda (third right) addressing the gathering during the opening session of the meeting
Minister of Aviation, Kofi Adda, has stated that the current Akufo-Adoo administration does not intend to interfere with the operations of the proposed home-based carrier for the country owing to lessons learnt from the collapse of Ghana Airways and Ghana International Airlines.
Mr. Adda made this known on Monday in Accra when the Aviation Ministry met key stakeholders in the aviation industry to discuss plans to secure a home-based carrier for Ghana.
The minister, his deputy, Cobbina Darko-Mensah, Director-General of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, John Attafuah, country managers and officials of some major airline companies, namely Emirates Airlines, South African Airways, Egypt Air, Passion Air, among others, attended the meeting at Ibis Hotel.
According to Mr. Adda, “Ghana has travelled the road of having a national airline before, indeed, more than once, Ghana Airways and Ghana International Airlines existed before, and we have learnt some lessons, and it goes without saying that this time around we would not repeat those mistakes.”
He added that “we intend to get it right, and that is why the Government of His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, would not attempt to be involved in owning and running an airline. This is not the government’s business.”
He stressed that “it’s worth mentioning at this stage that government’s next major move in the aviation industry is to establish a home-based carrier to feed the aviation hub we are creating in the West African Region.”
Golden Share
Mr. Adda said “government does not intend to exercise control in the new airline. It is for this reason that you have been invited as potential strategic investors to consider acquiring shares in this new venture, while government maintains “golden” share not exceeding 10% of total shares allotted.
“The government would not meddle or interfere with the management and operations of the home-based carrier. We will support the private sector, through you the stakeholders to do it well. The government stands ready to grant incentives that would facilitate this venture,” according to him.
Model
A proposed model appropriate for the carrier, he stated, was currently before Cabinet and that it shall soon be presented to the stakeholders.
“This model is by no means cast in stone for the home-based carrier, but it’s indicative of the direction in which the airline is expected to go,” he said.
Acting Chief Director of the Aviation Ministry, Christina Edmund, in a speech read on her behalf, explained that the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Aviation, is committed to the development of the aviation industry.
“In doing this, we have set for ourselves, as a key deliverable, to establish a home-based carrier with private sector participation,” she added.
By Melvin Tarlue