Minister inaugurates Boards for Aviation Industry

Accra, Sept. 11, GNA - Ms. Gloria Afua Akuffo, Minister of Aviation on Tuesday tasked the Board members of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Ghana Airport Company Limited to play their roles effectively to ensure that Ghana's goal of becoming the aviation hub of the sub-region was achieved.

Speaking at the joint inauguration of the two boards in Accra, Ms Akuffo said the efficient and effective performance of their complementary roles would propel and facilitate the development of the aviation industry.

However, she said, while it was necessary to co-operate in the fulfilment of their task it was equally important that the two boards endeavour to maintain and retain t heir independence at all times. Ghana Civil Aviation Authority ACT, 2004 (Act 678) establishes the Civil Aviation Authority as a new entity which functions include the provision of air navigation services and safety regulation.

A new company GACL was therefore set up to render airline services such as maintaining secure airports and airstrips; facilitating airline's operations of passenger and cargo mail and coordinating the operations of other agencies that provide support services. Ms. Akuffo said since Act 678 had given a new birth to the organisations the approach to the performance of their duties should change from what it had been in the past.

She expressed the hope that the past situation in which board members had taken over the management of companies would not recur and urged them to avoid bureaucratic tendencies that could set the clock of development backwards.

Ms. Akuffo pledged the readiness of the Ministry to support the Board and Management in their quest to transform their respective organisations.

Mr. Frank Ocran, Executive Chairman of the State Enterprises Commission, asked the members of the two boards not to put their personal interests above those of the company. This, he said, was important if they were to work collectively as a group to achieve corporate goals.

Mr Timothy Pappoe, Chairman of the GCAA Board and Dr Samuel Annor, Chairman of the GACL Board pledged the readiness of the respective Boards to live up to their tasks.

The Board Members of the GCAA are Mr Timothy K. Pappoe (Board Chairman), Air Commodore Michael Samson-Oje, Mr T. A. Selby, and Madam Merene Botsio.

The rest are Mr Henry Atta Bedu, Madam Adelaide Ahwereng, Mr Abdul-Rahman Al-Hassan, Mr Ben Dadzie and Mr Simon Allotey. The GACL Board Members are, Dr Samuel Annor (Board Chairman), Mrs Efua Ghartey, Mr F. Opare-Ansah, Mr Agyei Boye and Mr Benjamin Aryeh. Others are Air Cmdr. Nana Krakue, Mr Obed Okudzeto and Mr Robert Owusu Amankwah.