Joseph Kofi Adda, Aviation Minister
The Ministry of Aviation has denied false news making rounds on social media that President Akufo-Addo was expected to hand over five aircraft to the ministry yesterday to commence the operations of a home-based carrier.
“This is certainly not true as no agreement has been signed yet with the strategic partner so far identified. This would have to get the consent of Cabinet and Parliament.
“We wish to let the public know that we are at an advanced stage in our negotiations with EgyptAir on a Strategic Partnership arrangement to relaunch a National Flag Carrier but the matter has not yet received Cabinet and certainly not Parliamentary Approval.
“These two processes have yet to be carried out, an Air Carrier Licence (ACL) obtained before an Air Operator Certification (AOC) granted by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)Â before we can take delivery of and operate any airline or use any aircraft,” a statement issued by the ministry and signed by Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda has noted.
It continued that it was indeed true “that when Cabinet and Parliament finally do respectively approve and ratify the Partnership Agreement, the new flag carrier will commence operations with at least five aircraft. However, we wish to state that the President is not yet delivering the aircraft as those processes have not been concluded.”
The Ministry of Aviation said government and the New Patriotic Party was quite optimistic and hopeful that this agreement would go through this year to place the Black Star in the sky to give Ghanaians the benefit of air service under the national flag, but it was not today.
“We therefore ask the general public to disregard the false news that His Excellency the President will deliver five aircraft to the Ministry of Aviation,” it added.