The Divisional Union of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) at the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) has called for the sanctioning of operators who violate the standards and regulations of the airport.
This follows the directive by the GACL for McDan Aviation to suspend its use of Terminal One at the Kotoka International Airport for its Private Jet Terminal Services until further notice.
GACL had accused McDan Aviation of operational breaches following the inauguration of the latter’s private jet services at the airport last week.
Speaking to Citi Business News, the Divisional Chairman of the PSWU at the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Abdul-Issaka Bamba, noted that if such situations are unchecked they could lead to a downgrade of the Kotoka International Airport which will ultimately affect their livelihoods.
“Now we provide services and if our customers who are the passengers decide not to come to Ghana because they think their security is not assured, then we are out of business. Now, from where I sit, staff and their job security are my core mandate. These things happening means should anything go wrong, if people and aircraft decide not to come to the airport again, it means jobs are being lost and that is a major issue.”
“So the way forward is that operators who don’t want to obey regulations must be sanctioned. Because the fear is that if they are not sanctioned, the airport itself can be sanctioned by international authorities.”
McDan Aviation suspended from using Terminal 1 for private jet services
Management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited has indefinitely barred McDan Aviation from operating its private jet services at the Terminal 1 of the Kotoka International Airport.
This comes after airport authorities said there have been operational breaches by McDan Aviation.
“We note with concern your failure 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. Management has consequently directed the suspension of your use of Terminal 1 until further notice”, a letter from the GACL to McDan Aviation ordered.
It also said the decision was arrived at in reference to earlier discussions and subsequent directives to suspend the inauguration of the private jet terminal services.
The company launched the private terminal and services on Friday, January 28, 2022, at an event boycotted by the leadership of the Ghana Airports Company Limited and government officials.
Leaders within the sector, including the Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, refused to attend the event following issues raised against the firm by the Ghana Airport Company Limited.
Financial obligations not met
A letter the GACL wrote to the Minister of Transport on January 24, 2022 explained that, while McDan Aviation had satisfied all operational requirements to enable it open for business, it was “yet to fulfil its financial obligations to Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL). McDan owes GACL a total of US$4,505,034 and GHS227,293 respectively.”
It disclosed further that “as part of negotiating a payment plan, McDan paid GHS1,000,000 on January 19, 2022.”
The Ghana Airport Company also said McDan Aviation “is yet to agree on a Fixed Base Operator (Private Jet Terminal Operator) license fee with GACL.”
Alleged breaches
GACL in a letter dated January 28, 2022, directed McDan Aviation to suspend the commissioning ceremony following some alleged breaches.
The Ghana Airport Company said it had “engaged in several activities without prior approval from GACL which have typically called for emergency corrective actions.”
It cited the commencement of the construction of the private jet terminal without a Plan of Construction Operation approval from GACL as an example.
“We only became aware of your construction activities during routine security patrols, and we had to ask you to stop and submit a PCO [Plan of Construction Operation] for review and approval before construction continued.”
McDan Aviation received a license to operate as a fixed-base operator at the airport in 2019.
Source: citibusinessnews.com