Business News of Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Source: adomonline.com
A former Managing Director of Ghana Airways, Air Commodore Kwame K. Pumpuni has called on the government to conduct thorough feasibility studies before taking steps to acquire a national carrier.
Ghana has for some time now been considering the acquisition of a national airline to help boost the country’s image in the aviation sector.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Bawa-Mogtari told Joy News a few days ago that the National Airline will start operation by September 2015.
She was optimistic the new airline would, unlike the defunct Ghana Airways and the Ghana International Airlines, succeed, arguing the quest to ensure it becomes a success is the reason government is treading cautiously.
The only thing that could offset the deadline for the commencement of the airline, she said, might be challenges with certification as it takes about three to six months to obtain one.
International consulting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) was in August 2014 selected as the transaction advisor for the establishment of the new national carrier.
PwC is undertaking various business studies to determine the viability, ownership structure, develop various models and evaluate bids for the establishment of the new flag carrier.
Air Commodore Pumpuni agrees that government ought to take its time before rolling out the new airline as it takes 3-4 aircrafts for a country to run an airline.
He said several other factors, including the maintenance of these Aircrafts for smooth operation, should also be factored into the feasibility studies embarked upon by PwC before the final conclusion is arrived at.
But a cross-section of the public who spoke to Adom News thinks the move towards acquiring a national career is pre-mature.
They insist a stabilized economy should be the focus of government and not a national career.
‘At this time that we can’t even afford three square meals a day, you are talking about buying aircrafts. President Mahama should concentrate on fixing the economy and ending the dumsor…,’ they said in separate interviews.