Ghana Tours folds up

Accra, July 29, GNA - Ghana Tours, a charter company to Ghana, has folded up, after five years of operation, a statement by the company said in Accra on Tuesday.

The company has been dogged by problems of landing rights and refuelling problems, which had led to cancellation of its flights, creating a wave of stranded passengers.

"After discussion with Ghana Tours management, the management took a bow to surrender its licence in the United Kingdom and cease operation so that United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) would take responsibility for re-protecting all passengers by being given full refund."

Ghana Tours said it was still unclear what would happen to the payments for the flights and deposits which Air Namibia, a carrier for Ghana Tours, were holding before the collapse, adding "it is, however, suspected that the UKCAA would carry out an investigation once the dust clears."

The UKCAA has made available a number for all who might be stranded for refund or repatriation. The number is +442074536350. Ghana Tours said they were expecting only 45 passengers from Ghana to be affected.

"This is a far cry from thousands which other failed charter flight operators had left stranded abroad in the past. The company has refunded almost all the Ghana originating passengers' money," the company said.

"This marks the end of a chapter in the history of low affordable flight travel to and from Ghana on the UK route. The company which partnered Britannia Airways and Astraeus Airlines over five years has been well commended to have survived that long in spite of economic and political pressures.

Ghana Tourist Board would also lose a partner in promoting tourism to Ghana."