GACL intent on resolving agitation with staff over presumed sale of the airport

The management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has described renewed tensions over the apparent sale of the Kotoka International Airport as rather unfortunate and a surprise.

Their disappointment was over the fact that despite regular and consistent churning of information and engagement with stakeholders including workers, they remained uncertain about the company’s decision.

A statement issued by GACL following renewed unrest among the workers said the company has always maintained a cordial working relationship with its stakeholders including the Divisional Union.

According to the management of the airport, they revealed that they met on June 30 with some section of the airport’s workforce to discuss issues relating to a purported “Sale of Kotoka International Airport”.

It said at the meeting, Managing Director of GACL, Yaw Kwakwa, confirmed receipt of a proposal for Partnership from TAV-SUMMA which was yet to be considered.

Madam Oboshie Sai Cofie , the Chairperson of GACL, in an interview with Daily Graphic on July 3, 2020, had said the Board has received the proposal although no discussion had started.

The Minister of Aviation, Joseph Kofi Adda, also in a statement denied the allegation and assured the general public that his outfit and its stakeholders were considering a proposed Strategic Partnership arrangement to improve service delivery and expansion of infrastructure at KIA to achieve government’s vision of making Ghana the Aviation Hub within the West African Sub-Region.

Kotoka International Airport sale controversy

On July 6, 2020, the Ministry of Aviation dismissed reports alleging that the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has been sold to a foreign company and urged the public to disregard it.

In a statement signed by the sector minister, Joseph Kofi Adda, the Ministry said, it was however, deliberating for consideration with its stakeholders, including the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), a proposed Strategic Partnership Arrangement between GACL and TAV-SUMMA Consortium to improve service delivery and expansion of infrastructure at the KIA.

This, he said, was to help achieve the government’s vision of making Ghana the Aviation Hub within the West African Sub-Region.

According to the statement, “an Executive Approval was granted by H.E. the President for the Ministry to facilitate the engagement of the Strategic Partners.

“To this end, we hereby state categorically that neither the Ministry nor the GACL has yet formally started any process of engagement on the subject matter with any stakeholder or partner.

“We, therefore, wish to note that the false information on the sale of the Kotoka International Airport being circulated in the media/social media is the work of mischievous and malicious elements to pitch the staff of GACL and the general public against Government to achieve their diabolical agenda and erode the successes chalked in the Aviation Sector for the last three years”.

It said the Ministry would continue to constructively engage its agencies and stakeholders in matters “affecting the Aviation Sector and Industry with the ultimate aim of achieving the President’s vision of making Ghana an aviation Hub in the sub-region”.