President John Mahama has said government will not interfere in the management of a new national airline.
The President says measures have been put in place to ensure that the new national airline yields profits.
“For those who have apprehension…I want to assure you even though it’s a new national airline, it is being done with the private sector. Government will be minority shareholder and the airline company that we partner with will have absolute management control,” President Mahama said.
Government plans to cash in on the country’s growing aviation industry which is growing at an annual rate of 10 percent in the past decade.
Around one million international passengers flew into Accra last year. The Ministry of Transport is expected to soon name a transaction adviser to advise government on the establishment of a new national airline.
Ghana has previously had two airlines which have collapsed. Ghana International Airlines, the last national carrier that was 70 per cent owned by government folded in May 2010 amid financial challenges and a shareholder dispute.
GIA’s predecessor, Ghana Airways also collapsed in 2005 after years of mismanagement.
President Mahama was speaking during a sod-cutting ceremony for the expansion and upgrade of the Tamale airport to an international airport. The airport expansion project, funded by Brazil, is estimated to cost $100 million.
Credit: myjoyonline
