PRESS RELEASE: Ghana Travel Ltd & FLYJET

International Centre for Consumer Issues and Advocacy (ICCIA) Concludes Investigation into the Operations of Ghana Travel Ltd (Charter Service for Flyjet)
Ghana Travel Ltd has finally yielded to pressure from passengers and the ICCIA, the consumer protection group and ceased trading. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of UK has called in the ?320,000 Pounds Sterling ATOL Bond. All Ghana Travel customers with urgent queries shall be receiving a refund soon.

The Centre for the Study of Tourism and Hospitality Firms (CESTHOF), a division of the International Centre for Consumer Issues and Advocacy (ICCIA), have been investigating Ghana Travels Ltd and the Flyjet Charter Service. Finally, officials of the Ghana Tourist Board have given themselves away after a team of Executives from ICCIA and TV3 crew stormed their offices.

The ?seat only? travel organiser has ceased operations as a charter service contractor and the CAA (UK) issued an advice yesterday March 25 to all customers that have not been able to travel to claim their refund. The CAA has called in their ATOL bond of ?320,000 Pounds Sterling that protects consumers against unnecessary losses when a tour operator goes out of business.

The Ghana Tourist Board has got questions to answer to Ghanaians and the general public. Was any due diligence procedures undertaken and by whom? Who carried out the due diligence procedures? Did the GTB know that Flyjet is notorious for flight delays and cancellations in the UK since they started operations in June 2003 and has been ranked among the worst performers on the website www.flightontime.info?

The ICCIA is also calling for the review of procedures for granting Charter Flight operational licences to tour operators. Consumers need to know where to go and what to do when an operator in the likes of Ghana Travel Ltd is at large and their offices are shut.

When contacted yesterday the 24th of March 2005 at about 1400hrs, the Public Relations Manager of GTB claimed they were busily preparing for an important meeting today Good Friday, a public holiday.

Michael Opare-Danso Esq., Executive Director of ICCIA, is advising all consumers to buy travel insurance whenever they purchase a travel package as a security against foreseeable and unforeseeable occurrences in the future.

Contacts:

Chris, (Manager, Ghana Travel Ltd ): 0244 711 980

ICCIA : 0244 267 914, 0244 616 897, 0244 519 785