Government has assured the operators within the aviation industry of its efforts to address the high cost of aviation fuel.
This, according the industry representatives has remain much higher compared to the prices charged in other countries in the sub-region aside from Nigeria.
Speaking at the 3rd Edition of the Aviation Stakeholders Breakfast Meeting in Accra, the Deputy Minister of Finance, in Charge of Revenue, Kwaku Kwarteng said, “we would look at what our competitors in the sub-region are offering and then have a discussion with you [industry players] and see how we can respond to what has being a regular complaint by the industry.”
Government, over the past few years reduced the pricing of aviation fuel by some 22 US cents per litre. However, aviation operators have still questioned Ghana’s competitiveness compared to its neighboring countries.
Last year, the Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda indicated that a committee led by the Ghana Airport Company has been set up to deal with aviation fuel which is one of the high priority areas of concern for aviation industry operators.
The committee was expected to study what gets involved in the pricing of aviation fuel and how to get the price reduced.
According to aviation operators, the comparative price of fuel, being one of the main cost components for airlines, would be a major determining factor for most airlines carriers who are making the decision to fly to West Africa, as to whether to choose Ghana as a destination.
By Joshua W. Amlanu