Airport Company Explains

THE Ghana Airport Company has attributed the delay in the repair of the two faulty conveyor belts in the Arrival Hall of the Kotoka International Airport, leading to much stress for arriving passengers, to the new Procurement Law.

A source close to the company told the Times yesterday that the new procurement law requires that beyond a certain amount, the company should seek approval from the National Procurement Board before purchases are made. "Application to the Board for approval was made more than two months ago but approval was given only last Friday for parts to be purchased for the repairs, the source said, and added that the parts to replace the faulty conveyor belts cannot be procured locally and have to be imported.

The Arrival Hall of the Kotoka International Airport has, since Friday, July 4, been a scene of frustration among passengers due to the breakdown of two of the three conveyor belts from which passengers retrieve their luggage on arrival.

Investigations by the Times revealed that the conveyor belts have been down for the past three months, leaving only one to serve passengers.

The source cited the example of the confused state of affairs on Friday evening when KLM and British Airways arrived.