Ghana Airways Seek Help For Stranded Passengers

Managers of Ghana Airways are making efforts to airlift stranded passengers at airports in the United States as a result of a ban on Ghana Airways planes by the American Federal Aviation Authority.
Officials of the Transport Ministry, Ghana Airways and delegates believed to be representing the US federal aviation authority are reportedly holding discussion on the Ghana Airways situation as well as plans for the stranded passengers.
The present developments follow a notification to Ghana Airways by the US Department of Transportation that it has no authority to fly in and out of the US until investigators can resolve what the department describes as serious questions surrounding the safety of the its aircraft.
The airline is also required to answers questions as to why it continued to fly to America without a valid license.
Lawyers representing the airline in the US are yet to furnish the managers with details of the ban, which has adverse implications for the airline, which serves as a direct link between West Africa and the United States.
Latest reports reaching JoyNews indicate that nearly 200 passengers have been stranded at the Baltimore Washington International airport since Monday with little information from the airline, except snippets of news on the situation on local television.
But Ghana Airways Board Chairman Mr. Dwimoh told JOY FM arrangements are being made for the passengers.
Mr. Dwimoh said the airline's board had made moves in order to avoid the current situation after warnings from Ghana's Civil Aviation Authority and the US Federal Aviation Authority.
Meanwhile, the US department of transportation's statement notifying Ghana Airways about the current ban on its flights to America indicates that the airline will have to account for its actions by answering serious questions regarding safety and licensing, before it is allowed to resume service to and from America.
The airline is also expected to take all possible steps to address the needs of affected passengers.
Ghana Airways operates two roundtrip flights each week between Accra and New York's John F Kennedy Airport and two round trip flights each week between Accra and Baltimore Washington International airport. Scheduled flights since Monday have been cancelled until further notice.