Stranded Ghanair Passengers ‘Chase’ Minister

Some stranded passengers of Ghana Airways last Thursday chased after the Minister of Roads and Transport, Dr. Richard Winfred Anane, to register their protest over the delay of their flight back to their destinations.

The protesting passengers who first chased the minister to his office at the ministry finally had to make a U-turn to Parliament House when they learnt shortly after their arrival at the ministry that Dr. Anane had left for Parliament.

They finally caught up with him on the broad staircase at the entrance to the Banquet Hall, now the temporary chamber of Parliament. There they accosted the Road and Transport Minister with their frustrations and grievances over the supposedly disdainful treatment meted out to them by the staff of Ghana Airways at the airline's head office. The eight aggrieved passengers, who represented the larger group of stranded passengers, told the Minister that some of them run the risk of losing their jobs as a result of the delay whiles one woman said her husband has threatened to divorce her as she convinced him to travel with her to Ghana.

The woman who was speaking amidst sobs said her husband, who is a German, contended he could lose his job and therefore threatened her thus; if I lose my job, I will divorce you.” Consoling the stranded passengers, whose interaction with the minister was peaceful.

Dr. Anane said he would consult with the relevant personalities to ensure that their problems are solved. He asked all those whose stand the risk of losing their jobs to compile their job particulars for onward transmission to the Ghana Embassies in their various destinations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to explain to their bosses why they have delayed in returning to post.

Meanwhile the Communications Consultant to the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Mr. Ken Stephen Anku, has described as crude and unprofessional the way and manner the police manhandled the stranded passengers at the premises of Ghana Airways head office.

“It was an unprofessional way of handling issues,” he retorted angrily and explained that he had gone there to talk to the stranded passengers to remain calm as the ministry confers with stakeholders to have their problems solved.