Help us to save Ghana Airways

....Aliu tells Boeing International
Vice President Aliu Mahama, holding discussions with Mr Philip de St Aubin, Vice President of Boeing International, urged the world's leading aerospace company to use its expertise and experience to help revamp the operations of Ghana's ailing national carrier, Ghana Airways.

He said the heavy indebtedness of the National Carrier, which had virtually crippled the Airline, was of great concern to Ghanaians, especially those living abroad and the Government was willing to cooperate with any partner with the capability to make it vibrant.

Mr Aubin, who called on Vice President Mahama at the Castle, Osu, is in Ghana to acquaint himself with the local operations of his company, as he would shortly assume the position of Interim President, when his Boss retires.

Vice President Mahama expressed satisfaction that Boeing had already entered into partnership with Ghana Airways, by sending a Planner to help it to plan its fleets and leasing two DC9 aircraft, which were flying in the Sub-Region.

The Company, he said, had demonstrated a good corporate attitude by establishing an aeronautical institute at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to train engineers for the Sub-Region and supporting the Princess Marie Louise Hospital in Accra.

It is also supporting the Ghana Air Force with its training needs and donated some books to a number of schools.

Mr Aubin said his Company would balance friendship with business interests to improve the aviation industry in Ghana.

"We are here in line with our policy to reach out to people in different parts of the world, to do business with them and to give something back to the community," he said.

He said Boeing had made Ghana its central location in West Africa and it intended to do good business and generate jobs in the Sub-Region.

Later in an interview, Mr Aubin said Boeing could assist Ghana Airways to transform its fortunes by offering analytical services, providing manpower training and technical support, in addition to planning its fleets to operate on the most economical routes.

He said his assessment of his company's performance in Ghana, during his visit, was positive and he held fruitful discussions with some business partners.

Mr Emmanuel Adjei Boye, Deputy Minister of Road and Transport, said Boeing had been of immense support to Ghana Airways and Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and prayed the company to bear with the Airline as it made efforts to pay the debt owed Boeing.

Boeing, which started operating in Ghana about two and half years ago, is the largest manufacturer of satellites, commercial jetliners and military aircraft.

It employs over 160,000 people in 70 countries. It generated 54.1 billion dollars in 2002.