Showcase Graphic newspapers, reduce airfares - Minister appeals to airline operators

The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has appealed to foreign airlines operating in the country’s airspace to showcase newspapers from the stables of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd on board their flights.

He said the deliberate placement of news and entertainment from the state-owned media in flights would help project brand Ghana and its culture to the rest of the world.

The minister also urged the airlines to use the services of local flight catering companies to promote Ghanaian cuisines.

He was speaking at a breakfast meeting with stakeholders in the aviation industry in Accra yesterday. 

Meeting

The meeting was an initiative of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to engage stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue where they would share key updates and strengthen collaboration.

The event provided a platform for the stakeholders to contribute to the government's agenda of positioning Ghana as a leading aviation hub in the sub-region.

Participants included officials of GCAA, the Ghana Airports Company, the Accident Investigation Bureau, airlines and service providers who reaffirmed their collective commitment to uphold excellence, innovation and safety standards in Ghana's civil aviation sector.

Reduction of fares

Mr Nikpe further implored the airlines to reduce their fares by 15 per cent in response to the appreciation of the cedi against all major foreign currencies in the country.

“We are all aware of the gains of the cedi in recent times. Indeed, the cedi has appreciated against all the major currencies and we anticipate that it will trickle down to service delivery and cost of doing business.

“We are utilising the breakfast meeting platform to urge them to follow the example of road transport operators by considering a 15 per cent reduction in their prices,” he added.

Mr Nikpe also said that the government was in the process of reviving the national airline, for which a 10-member task force had been inaugurated.

He said Terminal Two of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra was also being refurbished to handle both domestic and international travellers.

Commitment

The acting Director-General of GCAA, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, said the authority would continue to uphold its core mandate as a regulator committed to safety, security and operational excellence.

“I am proud to report that Ghana remains among the leading states in Africa in terms of effective implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety, security, environmental and facilitation standards.

“Our performance under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) and Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) over the years is a direct result of our collective vigilance and professionalism,” he said.

Rev. Arthur also said that plans were underway to construct a modern air traffic control centre to boost radar surveillance, communication efficiency and safety protocols.