Stakeholders in the aviation industry say they are satisfied with steps taken by McDan Aviation to operationalise its private jet terminal at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
The stakeholders include the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Airports Company Limited, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament.
The McDan Aviation was barred indefinitely from operating its private jet services at the Terminal 1 of the KIA by the management of the GACL just days after it inaugurated its private jet services.
In a letter to McDan placing an embargo on its operations, the GACL said failure by McDan to “comply with the directive despite the outstanding issues on the prior terms and conditions for the use and operations of Terminal 1 as a Private Jet Terminal” necessitated its action.
“Management has consequently directed the suspension of your use of Terminal 1 until further notice,” a letter ordered McDan Aviation.
But during a tour of the facility by the Transport Committee of Parliament and the other stakeholders yesterday, the Managing Director of the GACL, Mr Yaw Kwakwa, said McDan had taken steps to rectify the issues raised by the company.
Among the facilities at the terminal include desks for immigration, national security, scanners, on arrival visa issuance centres amongst others.
“We are satisfied by steps taken by McDan to address the concerns we have raised and we are confident they will be able to meet all the requirements we have identified.
“They are cooperating with us. They have agreed with us on our concerns and having taken them on board, we are hopeful they we will resolve them so that they start operating as a commercial private jet firm,” Mr Kwakwa told the media.
The chairman of the committee, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, on his part said, they were impressed with the safety and security arrangements at the terminal.
“After going round and hearing from the managers of the airport company, it is clear they are ready to address them. What is left is safety protocol issues for which they have initiated processes to resolve,” Mr Nyarko, MP for Akim Oda said.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli, said the ministry was satisfied with the arrangements at the airport and hopeful McDan Aviation would be operationalized soon.
“So far we are satisfied with what we have seen and I believe that the Committee on Roads and Transport is as well.
“The final say as far as aviation safety and security is concerned rests with the GCAA so they will give the final clearance.
“When McDan meets all the standards and the concerns that have been raised by the GACL and GCAA, the terminal would be opened as soon as possible.”
BYJULIUS YAO PETETSI