: An Enquiring Mind Wants To Know
Fellow Countrymen,Is it true that the fall of Ghana Airways has nothing to do with management? Is it true that the policy makers ( Ghana government) overlooked the actual problems that beset Ghana Airways and created another problem rather than facing the immediate and the real issues? An enquiring mind wants to know.
Our understanding is that Ghana Airways was asked by the FAA to bring their planes to international standards not management. Our understanding on the issue is that all Ghana needed to do to keep flying overseas, at least, to the USA was, first, to upgrade their planes. It is asserted that Ghana's aircrafts (commercial flights) were so old and overused and constituted flying hazards to passengers; and that if Ghana had been able to lease or buy a new or almost new aircraft she would have been in business today.
Now the question we want to post is this: Which was better for Ghana, giving the prices of some commercial aircrafts below, 1. Buying or leasing new plane(s) (See cost of aircraft below) to meet the said standards before putting the company in the open market for some investors to buy or join the government of Ghana to manage the corporation?
Or 2. Ignoring the immediate solution (as Ghana did) to the problem and looking outside in vain for partners or putting the ailing corporation on the open market for sale? What was there in place to attract investors; Carcas?
From our little knowledge we know that in order to find buyers or a good price for your home (or property) one first needs to bring his or her property to standard before looking for buyers. Also we don't wait till our property is foreclosed before we make efforts to find bankers to bail us out. We believe, based on the information we have that Ghana government's approach to the problem has caused more problems to Ghana and Ghanaians today; and we all need to learn some lessons from this. Today KLM and British Airways are making billions of profit out of this. Not only do Ghanaians have to face an ordeal in flying for longer days of time in getting to their destination but also monies that would have gone to Ghana Government is going to Holland and Britain. We are also faced with unemployment for our Ghanaian pilots and crew members. Is this a good strategy or what?
3. Trying to solve the problem now will take 10 times more effort and money than if we had used part of our loans, or find investors, even bringing this on the Ghana stock market or encouraging Ghanaians to invest in some 2 new planes. Has anyone got ideas on how to bring Ghana Airways back to business to compete for the $billion?
BONNA & BLESS
Airplane Families 2004 $ in Millions
717-200 38.0 - 42.0
737 Family
737-600 44.0 - 52.0
737-700 50.5 - 59.0
737-800 61.5 - 69.5
737-900 64.5 - 74.0
747 Family
747-400/ -400ER
198.0 - 227.0
747-400/ -400ER Freighter 202.0 - 228.0
767 Family
767-200ER 108.5 - 120.0
767-300ER 123.5 - 136.5
767-300 Freighter 131.5 - 143.5
767-400ER 135.0 - 148.5
777 Family
777-200 165.0 - 182.5
777-200ER 173.5 - 195.5
777-200LR 202.0 - 225.5
777-300 191.5 - 218.0
777-300ER 218.0 - 245.5
Boeing is committed to providing the most current data available. We hope you find this information useful as you review our complete family of airplanes - including the only freighter family available today.
The prices above reflect a range of available options and configurations for each model. Configurations and options that may affect price include performance capability, interiors, avionics, fuel capacity, etc.
All prices are in U.S. dollars and are in millions.
Source: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/prices/ Retrieved on May 14, 2005
OKYERE BONNA & BLESS BERCHIE
OKYERE BONNA
