Government not interested in wholly public owned national carrier - Alhaji Dauda

Accra, June 29, GNA – Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Transport says a wholly public owned national carrier is out of the question as far as government is concerned.

He said government was considering two options only: a public-private partnership or fully private carrier that would fly Ghana's colours.

He said the Government was still considering the options and would inform the public when the decision was made.

Alhaji Dauda made these statements when he addressed Journalists after a working tour of on-going and completed projects at the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday.

He said this was because government involvement in some areas did do not auger well for the nation as far as the performance of those areas were concerned and cited public owned health facilities and school as examples.

“Where the private sector can do better, we would go in for that” he said, adding “Government is committed to flying Ghana's colours”.

Alhaji Dauda said the increase in air traffic at KIA, with about 32 registered airlines had necessitated the expansion of some facilities at the airport. The original apron was designed to take small and medium aircrafts and currently has 13 parking sites at the terminal.

However, most of the airlines, including British Airlines and Emirates, use large-bodied aircrafts and all take-off and land at almost the same time thus the southern part of the apron is being expanded to provide space to accommodate seven such aircrafts.

This expansion and the reconstruction of the taxiway are expected to be completed in April 2012.

Also, the scanner at the cargo section of the airport is being activated to enable scanning of goods that arrive and leave the KIA. This move, Alhaji Dauda said, was to improve on security system especially at the cargo section in order to deal with illegal goods and narcotics.

The Minister also toured a new catering facility constructed by Servair Ghana, a subsidiary of Air France, which specializes in in-flight catering and urged management of the service to include local Ghanaian dishes in their menu.

Mr Yves Palazot, Managing Director of Servair Ghana, said they would start operations with TAP Air Portugal's first flight to Ghana on July 1, 2011.

Other projects being undertaken at the KIA under the Phase III development project include rehabilitation and extension of fuel mains, provision of Aeronautical ground lighting, pavement management system, rehabilitation of existing apron drainage and refurbishment and servicing of fire tenders.

Others are supply and installation of floor standing units for the international and domestic terminal, supply of trolleys, construction of three additional boarding gates, re-roofing of the international terminal building and installation of an ultra-modern common use self-service (CUSS) system.

GNA