Finance Ministry to reimburse GIA passengers in London

Accra, Feb. 14, GNA - Cabinet has approved the refund of money to more than 800 passengers of the defunct Ghana International Airlines (GIA) who were unable to travel on the airline when it was closed early last year. Mr Kweku Sersah-Johnson, Public Affairs Director of the Ministry of Transport (MoT), disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday.

He said GH¢1,200,471.74 had already been disbursed since December 20= 10 to travel agents and other airlines to be paid to passengers to cover fare refund and repatriation.

Stranded passengers have been threatening to take legal action against the government for their predicament and are said to be planning a demonstration in London to demand a refund of their fares and possible compensation.

"Government is aware of the situation and the plight of the passenger= s and is doing everything within its means to resolve the issue," he said. Mr Sersah-Johnson said last year, the government set up a committee to resolve the issue of repayment and repatriation of the stranded passengers. He added that the committee submitted its report to the MoT for onward consideration by Cabinet for approval.