Cardinal Turkson To Save Ghana Airways?

The Management of Ghana Airways, the national airline, on Friday appealed to His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Tukson to negotiate with the Management of ALITALIA, the Italian carrier, to re-schedule its debts.

Mr Philip Owusu, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Airways, made the appeal when he paid a courtesy call on Cardinal Turkson at the National Catholic Secretariat in Accra on Thursday. Mr Owusu informed Cardinal Turkson that the national airliner owed ALITALIA 25 million dollars being charges for the servicing of a fleet of their aircraft.

He said due to the debt ALITALIA had abrogated a contract with Ghana Airways for the maintenance of its aircraft, demanding full payment of the debt before any new contract could be re-negotiated. Ghana Airways on the other hand, Mr Owusu said because of its financial problems, was requesting that the payment of the debts should be spread over a five-year period.

Mr Owusu said Ghana Airways' total indebtedness including that of ALITALIA and other institutions was about 160 million dollars. "Due to the huge outstanding debts of Ghana Airways, it would be appreciated if Cardinal Turkson could get ALITALIA or the Italian Government to re-open negotiations between the two companies for debt restructuring, if not the cancellation of part or the whole debt. "It is our hope that through your intervention we will get this issue solved," he told Cardinal Turkson.

Mr Owusu gave the assurance that Ghana Airways would ensure the provision of better services to its customers, adding, "Ghanaians will see a new Ghana Airways within a year".

The Company, he said, had presented proposals to the Government for partnership agreement with a foreign company.

Cardinal Turkson promised to take action on the request.

However, he asked Ghana Airways to take measures to improve its services, because it had the potential to become economically viable.

The Management of Ghana Airways, the national airline, on Friday appealed to His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Tukson to negotiate with the Management of ALITALIA, the Italian carrier, to re-schedule its debts.

Mr Philip Owusu, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Airways, made the appeal when he paid a courtesy call on Cardinal Turkson at the National Catholic Secretariat in Accra on Thursday. Mr Owusu informed Cardinal Turkson that the national airliner owed ALITALIA 25 million dollars being charges for the servicing of a fleet of their aircraft.

He said due to the debt ALITALIA had abrogated a contract with Ghana Airways for the maintenance of its aircraft, demanding full payment of the debt before any new contract could be re-negotiated. Ghana Airways on the other hand, Mr Owusu said because of its financial problems, was requesting that the payment of the debts should be spread over a five-year period.

Mr Owusu said Ghana Airways' total indebtedness including that of ALITALIA and other institutions was about 160 million dollars. "Due to the huge outstanding debts of Ghana Airways, it would be appreciated if Cardinal Turkson could get ALITALIA or the Italian Government to re-open negotiations between the two companies for debt restructuring, if not the cancellation of part or the whole debt. "It is our hope that through your intervention we will get this issue solved," he told Cardinal Turkson.

Mr Owusu gave the assurance that Ghana Airways would ensure the provision of better services to its customers, adding, "Ghanaians will see a new Ghana Airways within a year".

The Company, he said, had presented proposals to the Government for partnership agreement with a foreign company.

Cardinal Turkson promised to take action on the request.

However, he asked Ghana Airways to take measures to improve its services, because it had the potential to become economically viable.