It has now become abundantly clear that people close to former President J.A. Kufuor had direct hand in the demise of Ghana Airways limited.
The machination of those cronies of the former President, in no small way, contributed to the woes of the national carrier to pave way for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to privatise the airline. One of such persons was a man called Daasebre, who claimed that he was the nephew of the former President, as well as someone performing the duty of an informant to the former President and his wife, Mrs. Theresa Kufuor.
Daasebre, according to a Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) report on the fraudulent activities that prevailed within Ghana Airways Limited in 2002, was the pivot around which people travelling with fraudulent documents on the airline revolved. Daasebre and his gang would have gotten away and perpetrated their acts deeper but the presence of Mr. Ola A. Duroyaiye at Ghana Airways Limited pulled the breaks on their wheels.
Durojaiye’s name popped up during the turbulent periods of Ghana Airways Limited as the person who helped in stopping the rot that prevailed at the time. He was recruited by Ghana Airways between July 2002 and October 2002 to assist in handling the seemingly insurmountable problem of checking passengers and luggage in London, where he was domiciled.
When the staff of Ghana Airways, especially the cabin crew, realized he was becoming too much to handle, he was framed up, leading to an investigation by the BNI. Interestingly, the findings and recommendations of the BNI, dated January 23, which was presented to the National Security Coordinator and the Ministry of Defence, was never acted upon.
According to the report, Daasebre, together with some staff of the airline, allegedly used to process passengers whose documents were suspected to be fraudulent but allegedly claimed that they were relatives of the former first lady. “There were instances where Durojaiye refused them the chance to travel to the displeasure of Daasbre and his cronies,” the report stated. Surprisingly, the BNI report revealed that at certain times, Durojaiye had to seek the assistance from the Airport Security coordinator, but that office would simply not help him to fight the cause.
According to the report, Bedford Otoo, who at the time claimed he was so close to the doors of power and was in charge of Ground Handling of the airline, also gave special concession to some middlemen, popularly known as “Goro boys’, in the handling of cargo and luggage to Nigeria. “Instead of the official rate of $1.64 per kilo, the ‘Goro boys’ charged $1.26 without the knowledge of management,” the report said.
The report stated that through the activities of Otoo, a cargo and luggage to Nigeria were smuggled on board the airline. “Otoo was accordingly advised to write to inform management of his activities but he refused and the presence of Durojaiye was to the discomfort of Otoo and his cronies,” the report stated.
The BNI investigation at the time uncovered massive ticket fraud that prevailed among certain personalities of Ghana Airways Limited. “The use of fraudulent tickets on the aircraft was one of the banes of Ghana Airways, costing the airline millions of US dollars a year. “On October 1, 2002, Leony Anteson, Ghanair ticket Manager in London, sent a Memo to Durojaiye, asking him for assistance to arrest the fraudulent ticketing. “Durojaiye managed to infiltrate the syndicate who were pirating Ghana Airways tickets in Nigeria and he, together with other security agents, succeeded in arresting the syndicate.
“The action by Durojaiye made him to nearly clash with the Airport Security Coordinator, Group Captain Nkansah, over what was perceived as overlapping of operational areas which made the Airport Security coordinator allegedly feel he was undermining his authority,” the report said.
