Government has learnt lessons of the failure of previous national airlines and that offer reasons not to repeat the mistakes of the past, Aviation Minster, Joseph Kofi Adda has indicated.
The Minister gave this assurance during a meeting with stakeholders in the aviation sector in Accra on Monday.
The collapse of the former Ghana Airways and its successor, the Ghana International Airlines, were attributed to administrative challenges, including a free-ticket system, exploited by government appointees and politicians.
But the minister assured that, government, this time around, will not attempt to get involve in the administration of the new airline.
“Since every government has the obligation to enhance its national image and promote its national interest, the new carrier is part of Ghana’s foreign policy in order promote economic growth in the sphere of global competitiveness,” he added.
Ownership/Gov’t shares
About ten stakeholders took part in the meeting as potential and strategic investors in the new airline.
Government however, is expected to maintain a ‘golden share’, not exceeding 10 percent.
Participants
Stakeholder for this meeting included; Ethiopian Airlines, Air Mauritius, Brussels Airlines, EgyptAir, Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Passion Air, Africa World Airlines (AWA), and Air Ghana.
New projects
Adda mentioned that government has plans to develop other related facilities in aviation; the MRO (Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul), Aviation Training Center for technicians and Pilot Training Academy.
These together with the Home-Based Carrier should help us realize our dream of making Ghana an aviation hub. You the stakeholders should find in these, opportunities to grow your businesses in Ghana as partners to government.
Background
With a capital injection of ₤400,000, the then Ghana Airways was founded in July 1958 by the government, holding a 60 percent stake. However, the airline ceased operations in 2004.
In the same year, Ghana International Airlines (GIA) was setup as a partnership between the government of Ghana and a group of private international investors, to operate scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services.
Government had 70 percent and whereas a US consortium (GIA-USA) held a 30 percent stakes in this Airlines.
Nonetheless, the dreams of this airline were short-lived, when it suspended operations in May 2010.
By Joshua W. Amlanu