Govt reduces Aviation Fuel By 20%

By Edmund Mingle

In the quest to make Ghana a preferred destination for airlines and an aviation hub in West Africa, the government has reduced the cost of aviation fuel by 20 per cent.

The Academy's new complex

President John Dramani Mahama, who announced the reduction yesterday, said it was as a result of consultations with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), following complaints that Ghana’s aviation fuel was too expensive.

The situation, he said, was affecting air traffic to Ghana as airlines preferred landing at destinations with less expensive fuel.

“The NPA will announce the details shortly, but the decision is to reduce aviation fuel cost by 20 per cent.

“Am sure this would improve the volumes the airlines take, and make Ghana a preferred destination for fuelling up, and also increase traffic and enhance revenues generation,” he said.

President Mahama, who made the announcement when he commissioned a seven-storey building for the Ghana Civil Aviation Training Academy at the airport enclave in Accra, gave the assurance that the government would provide the necessary support and undertake interventions that would promote the growth of Ghana’s aviation industry to make Ghana a preferred destination in Africa.

“Our vision is to make Ghana the preferred aviation hub in West Africa,” he said, and urged the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to continue to effectively collaborate in achieving that vision.

President Mahama being assisted by Mr. Allotey, and others
to cut the tape to open the training complex

According to him, because Ghana is considered as one of the safest aviation destinations in the world, there was a need for all stakeholders to work together in sustaining and enhancing that status.

The President commended the GCAA for establishing the academy and building the modern edifice from its internally generated funds, saying the facility reinforces the country’s desire to become a reliable aviation hub.

He believes that the opening of the complex now places the Academy in a good position to offer quality training aviation trainees from across Africa.

The complex has world-class lecture rooms, air traffic control simulation centres, a 200-seating capacity conference room, library, computer and language centres.

“I expect that the Academy will grow to become a centre of excellence in Africa,” President Mahama said, and urged GCAA to sustain its objectives.

Simon Allotey, Director-General of GCAA, in his address, gave the assurance that the Authority was poised to enhance aviation expertise in Africa through the work of the Academy.

In addition, he said well designed strategies were being pursued to improve the infrastructural and human capacity of the Ghana’s aviation industry to achieve operational excellence.

Prior to the commissioning of the academy’s complex, President Mahama also cut the tape to officially open the new Arrival Hall at the Kotoka International Airport.

He also inspected ongoing constructions works for the Terminal Three project, which are all part of efforts to modernise the nation’s aviation and ports industry.