The Minority in Parliament has requested government to reconsider its decision of negotiating an agreement with a foreign partner in the management of Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
Speaking on behalf of the group, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, Governs Agbodza, stated that they will take the necessary action should government sign an agreement without the consent of Ghanaians.
Addressing the press in Parliament, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu queried what the investor is bringing to the table.
“Ho is completed but not in use. Kumasi is under construction as we have taken the loan already. Tamale is also under construction, Wa has been completed and Kotoka Airport is over-capacitated. It will take Terminal Three five to seven years to reach its full capacity. Terminal Two recently got upgraded and is not even in use. They only handed over Terminal One to McDan and nobody even knows what he is doing there. So, what exactly is the strategic investor bringing?”
He went on to caution government on its move to partner an investor to manage KIA as he said it is not in the interest of the country.
“Is the partner to come and manage it because the Minister and the Directors are not capable of managing it? I don’t think at this stage of Ghana’s life we need a strategic investor to manage an airport when we can find our own money to build it. We don’t need anybody to manage it for us. So, whoever is handling this strategic discussion should please watch what they are doing because it is not in the interest of Ghana.”
Background
The Minister of Aviation, Joseph Kofi Adda in a statement earlier this month disregarded reports that hinted on government’s discussion to cede the management of Kotoka International Airport to a foreign company.
According to him, though the process of engagement has not begun, an Executive Approval has been signed by the President for the Ministry to facilitate the engagement with TAV-SUMMA Consortium, a Turkish firm, to improve service delivery and expansion of infrastructure at the Kotoka International Airport to achieve the government’s vision of making Ghana the Aviation Hub within the sub-region.
Meanwhile, the KIA branch of the Public Services Workers’ Union of the Ghana Airports Company Limited embarked on a demonstration after the Ministry’s clarification.
The Ministry of Aviation and the Ghana Airports Company Limited, have however justified the imminent partnership with a Turkish firm despite a protest by workers.
According to the Ministry, Ghana needs the investment to pay for outstanding loans and expand Airport infrastructure.
