Get out! The minority will govern the planned privatization of airport management

General News of Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-04-16

The parliamentary minority said that the government planned to entrust the management of Kotoka International Airport to a Turkish company TAV Airport Holding, replacing Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), which currently manages it.

Kwame Agbodza, who is a member of the Transport Committee, said the government was discussing the plan and the government wanted to do the same with the local airport as a whole.

JoyNews saw a document allegedly prepared by Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda, which states that he was seeking Cabinet Ministry approval "to facilitate the engagement of TAV Airport Holding Company Limited for the management of Kotoka International Airport ".

The paper prepared in March 2019 states that "the participation of the private sector will provide the equity investments necessary for the transformation of the sector, thus enabling KIA to become competitive in the West African subregion and throughout the entire region. continent".

However, Kwame Agbodza insists that GACL is already doing a good job with airports and asked why a foreign company should take over.

"Should we privatize the management of Ghana Airports Company? No, because the minister recently proved in front of the plenary that Ghana's airports and its agencies were in good financial health, "he told JoyNews parliamentary correspondent Joseph Opoku Gakpo on Tuesday.

Political friends

The member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of the Adaklu constituency of the Volta region said that minority suspects in the government would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the transaction at the expense of the government because There is no management problem there. [GACL]. "

"I think it's quite clear that they want to entrust it to their friends and that instead the state earns money to improve and increase the Infrastructure, some of that money will go to them, "he said.

According to him, GACL currently needs resources to pursue its expansion plans across the country and become more competitive.

"Ghana Airports Company needs investments in physical things; complete Kumasi[Ashanti Region], complete Tamale [Northern Region], complete the Wa Upper West area], complete Ho [Volta Region] and activate them, "he charged.

He wants the government "to cancel this decision" because it is not in the interest of GACL "nor in the interest of the State".

"They will not get the support of the minority because it is not in the interest of the state," added Agbodza.