Hon. Minister for Aviation, Gloria Akuffo making a point at the press conference. With her are Hon Minister for Information and National Orientation, Stephen Asamoah Boateng and his Deputy Hon. Frank Agyekum

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) under their “safe skies for Africa Initiative” has signed a Joint Statement with the Ministry of Aviation to assist Ghana re-attain its FAA Category 1 status.

Addressing the press today at the “Meet the Press Series” organized by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Hon Gloria Afua Akuffo, Minister for Aviation, announced that in order to improve safety and security at the airports, security screening equipment have been installed and a three state- of -the -art fire tenders have been procured to deal with the emergencies and rescue operations at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Hon Gloria Afua Akuffo bemoaned that Terrorism, Drug Trafficking, inadequate cooperation among African countries and other related offences have been some of the key external threats to the aviation sector.

The Minister announced that drug related arrests at Kotoka International Airport have increased from four to thirteen as at November 2006 and April 2008 respectively.

Hon Akuffo said, her Ministry has a mission of promoting a competitive, efficient and a cost effective aviation sector, whilst ensuring safety and security standards as well as an orderly growth of air transport to support social and economic development whilst minimizing the negative impact on the environment.

She said, remedial works on existing airfield pavements and a rehabilitation of terminal building has been done at the Kumasi and Takoradi airports. This Hon Minister said, had a great impact on the GHANA2008 by increasing passenger Throughput and international flights to regional airports.

Hon. Minister for Aviation disclosed that, her Ministry is faced with lot of challenges such as inadequate Transit Facilities at KIA, inadequate facilities at Domestic airports (eg. Fuel facilities, Runway Lights etc.),High Fuel prices, litigation between shareholders of Ghana International Air Lines (GIAL),Inadequate Management and Technical skills and Inadequate Funding. She appealed to Government and the Private Sectors for Support.

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Source: Sheila Halm-Quartey
Posted: 06/05/08

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