Government ensuring massive growth in aviation sector - Kofi Adda

The Minister for Aviation, Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda has revealed that the Akufo-Addo led government has ensured the completion of various ongoing infrastructural projects in the country’s aviation industry which have impacted positively and significantly on the growth of air transport and passenger travel experience.

According to him government has successfully completed the T3 project, the Ho and Wa airports and has started the Kumasi Airport Phase II and III projects with plans far advanced for the Tamale Phase II.

Joseph Kofi Adda was speaking at the launch of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT-Ghana) Centenary and Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

He averred that plans are far advanced for Ghana to launch it’s flag Carrier through the establishment of the Home-made Carrier and called on Ghanaian investors to take advantage and partner the Carrier.

Speaking on the theme “Logistics and Transport: A Catalyst for National Development,” the Aviation Minister who was represented by the Director of Human Resources at the Aviation Ministry, Samuel Dekyisaid the transport industry is a very broad area that covers road, sea and aviation sectors which makes the transport industry a very complex but vibrant one.

According to him, the overall direction for National Development as contained in the Coordinated Program for Economic and Social development Picked 2017-2024, is to create the conditions for the private sector to thrive in order to propel growth and create employment opportunities for the youth.

“This has been evident in the many policy initiatives and program being rolled out by government. For us in the aviation sector, a lot of work has been done to promote the sector through modernisation of our airports, establishment of a home based carrier, institutional and regulatory framework and ensuring overall safety in the industry as part of efforts to make Ghana the Aviation Hub within the West African Sub-Region,” he said.

Kofi Adda also called for the need to ensure massive investments in Infrastructure and air navigation systems to address the congestion issues associated with the increase in aircraft and passenger movements that the country has experienced and also to “keep up with the cutting edge technology that the aviation industry demands.”

He said government will continue to count on CILT to offer the needed technical advice that will propel the promotion of the transport and logistics sector.

On his part, the President of CILT-Ghana, Ebo Hammond in an interview at the sideline of the event said Transport and Logistics sector is an important area of growth hence much attention is needed to build synergy between industry players to ensure effective regulation.

Commenting on accidents especially road crashes in the country, Ebo Hammond noted that driver behaviour and attitude still remain the immediate cause of road crashes and that continuous education is important to the enforcement of the strategies that are being rolled out.

He however mentioned that policy makers in the industry must take a closer look at those strategies which have not shown any expected result.

He said that Drivers must endeavour to exercise self-discipline when faced with the temptation to take decisions that put the lives of passengers and themselves at risk and that government and its agencies should enforce Driver training regulations as stated in the LI 2180, Regulations 33 and 125 under the renewal of drivers’ license.

According to him government must also fast track the establishment of a Road Transport Regulatory Body to help bring sanity in the public transport system.