Ghana International Airlines (threads merged)
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Any news?
Any news on whats happening with GIA? ... I'm not a pilot, but just been offered a job with them - unlikely I'll take it, despite it - ON PAPER - looking fairly attractive.... 
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Seems they recently lost an engine on their wet leased aircraft, see here
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePag....php?ID=131410
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePag....php?ID=131525
So if you are a pilot you need to apply to those who operate the aircraft not to the client GIA who has no aircraft, has blown all money invested, also blown all money borrowed from the Ghana governement including from the pension fund, and still loses money. Not surprisingly the CEO indicates in the article above that he would like to have more.......
The smart thing to do would be to admit what everyone else knows that the airline GIA would be better off fully privatised, and for the Government of Ghana to get out of it. After their performance with their current partners the Mormans who would want the Government of Ghana as its partner. Ghana along with most African Governments has already bankrupted their national airline - in Ghana's case they look like they have been running their replacement national airline in the red and seem well on their way to GIA going under or needing repeats of the several cash infusions it has already had. Stopping the losses is not all that hard. Making a profit is well and truly possible - but for both you need to have good and serious owners who appoint serious management and then let them manage.
Political interference, political appointees or politicians giving in to the ever present temptation of tickling the till - these are amongst the famous or infamous reasons Ghana Airways collapsed and GIA has had a rough ride to date. Getting the politics out and allowing the business to be run as a business without milking it is the only way forwards for Africa's airlines in my opinion - GIA included.
That aside on a personal note - good fortune Capt. Joe
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePag....php?ID=131410
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePag....php?ID=131525
So if you are a pilot you need to apply to those who operate the aircraft not to the client GIA who has no aircraft, has blown all money invested, also blown all money borrowed from the Ghana governement including from the pension fund, and still loses money. Not surprisingly the CEO indicates in the article above that he would like to have more.......
The smart thing to do would be to admit what everyone else knows that the airline GIA would be better off fully privatised, and for the Government of Ghana to get out of it. After their performance with their current partners the Mormans who would want the Government of Ghana as its partner. Ghana along with most African Governments has already bankrupted their national airline - in Ghana's case they look like they have been running their replacement national airline in the red and seem well on their way to GIA going under or needing repeats of the several cash infusions it has already had. Stopping the losses is not all that hard. Making a profit is well and truly possible - but for both you need to have good and serious owners who appoint serious management and then let them manage.
Political interference, political appointees or politicians giving in to the ever present temptation of tickling the till - these are amongst the famous or infamous reasons Ghana Airways collapsed and GIA has had a rough ride to date. Getting the politics out and allowing the business to be run as a business without milking it is the only way forwards for Africa's airlines in my opinion - GIA included.
That aside on a personal note - good fortune Capt. Joe
Last edited by Wizard; 6th Oct 2007 at 15:33.
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It is impossible for Ghanian aviation to have a profitable airline.GCAA are inefficient,and the monopolistic protectionist policies of the Ghanian government is killing Ghanian aviation.
RIP
RIP
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stranded pax rumours re 77 parcels white powder on board
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updates since Ghana's change of Government
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"Wizard" aka Luke Norman Butler
Wizard!! alias Luke Norman Butler
Goodness me!
It's the Caloundra Conman, Aus Aviation's infamous swindler & bankrupt.
What are you sucking up here for?
Someone heavy must have stepped on that rock you've been hiding under lately.
Goodness me!
It's the Caloundra Conman, Aus Aviation's infamous swindler & bankrupt.
What are you sucking up here for?
Someone heavy must have stepped on that rock you've been hiding under lately.
Trouble trouble
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GIA-Which way forward?? 2nd June, 2009 article
There have been quite a number of articles written on Ghana International Airlines (GIA) and the present state that it finds itself in. For some reason, we as a country seem to be at our wits end unable to figure out which direction GIA should go and how to turn it into a viable company. The truth of the matter is if we decide to approach its management with the same old ‘Ghanaian mentality’ of doing things, we can be sure GIA would remain on the ‘tarmac’ On the other hand if we realize that we need to change our approach and attitude to management and chart a different course then hopefully in the next decade GIA may well become the centerpiece of our nationhood that it once was. There is always the need to study the past in order to understand the present and plan for the future. The national carrier has had a rather chequered history since its establishment.
It is reported that the ‘Osagyefo’ used to order flights with no passengers on board just to show the rest of the world that we, as Africans, could fly. Never mind whether it made sense economically or not. So with such a ‘rich’ history is it any wonder that subsequent managements (Ghanaian) over the years decided to treat the airline like a ‘fat cow’ that never runs out of milk?-Free tickets for employees and their families; bonuses upon bonuses for employees even in the face of nonperformance and mismanagement. Nobody cared whether these practices were sustainable or not. We all sat down and watched as these practices went on. And like any business built on such a model, the end was inevitable. It all came crashing down and what a heavy fall that was. And just like Ghanaians, we all suddenly became airline experts. Everybody had the perfect plan to salvage the collapsed airline, Ghana Airways. The NDC had the opportunity to overhaul the ‘system’ but its interventions fell short. Finally the then new government of the NPP decided to tackle the problem head-on. Among the number of proposals put forward was one by PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PWC). Personally, I believed that proposal from PWC was the best out of the lot. The government of Ghana was going to pay PWC a rather princely amount of money and in exchange have PWC manage and run the national airline for a number of years. PWC hoped to turn around the fortunes of the airline, by which time management reverts to the government. But before anybody could say jack, contents of the proposal had leaked to the media and all hell broke loose. I remember a particular journalist boasting on radio how he ‘intercepted’ the documents between the offices of PWC (then at the Gulf House) and the Castle. What was the noise about??? Oh, the money involved in the contract was too much. How could the government give so much money to PWC just to manage Ghana Airways? Are there not competent and qualified Ghanaians out there who could turn the company around? (Forget that it was the same ‘competent and qualified’ Ghanaians who had ran the company aground in the first place). On and on and on, it went. Instead of the government standing its ground and finding better ways of explaining to ordinary Ghanaians why it was necessary to take such a measure, they capitulated and that marked the end of the deal. I bet, that to the NPP, they were just being the ‘listening’ government they had promised to be. That argument does not hold water as far as I am concerned, but who am I anyway?-Just a proud Ghanaian who wants to see his country succeed!! That was one big disappointment if ever there was one. Where did that leave us? Well here we are with GIA that seems incapable of getting off the ground. I would say ‘ayekoo’ to that journalist who spearheaded the campaign against PWC. He knows who he is. I believe he is proud of himself now, and I want to believe also that he flies GIA anytime he travels!! What hypocrisy!!! In Ghana we are not ready to pay for a viable national airline, but we have no problem paying huge amounts of money to expatriates to coach our national football team. Apparently, a football team is more important than an airline. We would gladly dish out bonuses to footballers for winning one match but we cannot pay our medical staff to work in the rural areas. We would even promise winning bonuses to these players even before they kick the ball, and that’s also fine but our teachers can shout themselves hoarse about improved conditions of service and nobody cares. This is Ghana; we have our own unique set of priorities!! Well, maybe we believe we can always travel by Air Morrocco or South African Airways or some other airline but we cannot pay the Hawks of Togo to play in our stead. Priorities? What priorities??
The media has a very important role to play in our present attempt at ‘democracy’ but shouldn’t their criticisms and attacks be based on objective facts? Should they just be interested in running to the presses or to the airwaves at the first hint of ‘news’? Are they not required to inform and educate the populace? How do they ‘inform and educate’ if they don’t go the extra step of digging deeper? As a country, if we continue on this path, we would be going nowhere! We cannot continue to ‘beat ourselves into a frenzy’ anytime we disagree with a policy of the government. We need reasoned and intelligent discussions by experts (in the true sense of the word) on issues and not so-called ‘analyses’ by ‘talking heads’ on radio and T.V.
It was a similar story with the rather infamous CNTC (?) loan. Governments all over the world have the option of borrowing from the Bretton Woods Institutions or from the private capital market. In fact studies show that it is better borrowing from the latter. Private capital markets tend to have favourable and concessionary rates and terms. I think it was a wise policy decision when the NPP government decided to go that route and leave the IMF and its cousins to their devices. But unlike these institutions, private capital markets may not have straightforward locations and addresses. The reason being that these private entities try to ‘hide’ their monies from their respective government, in order to dodge paying taxes. So they carry these monies to accounts in Liechtenstein, Bahamas, Monaco and other known and unknown tax havens. So if the address of such an entity happens to show a beauty salon, what has that got to do with the money itself? Do they have the money or not? Can they deliver on the rates agreed on or not? These were the pertinent issues that needed to be raised; instead we spent the whole time shouting malfeasance and misappropriation. Led by the media, the people and, of course, the opposition ‘milked’ the situation for all it was worth. Meanwhile the government was in a dilemma because they were not in the position to reveal such details about a potential lender to the whole world. In the end Ghana did not get the money and I guess we are the better for it, right?
We are no saints and we should stop pretending that we are. The world is not fair and the mantra is” eat or be eaten”. We should be aggressive and, at all times, seek our own interest as a country. Now I hear the government has gone back to the IMF, even when we (Ghana) have documented and experiential evidence of their inimical policies towards Africa. Interestingly, I have heard no objections from Kwesi Pratt and the Third World Network of Dr. Graham. I thought they were for internal revenue generation and self-reliance. Yeah, talk is always cheap!
For GIA, I would like to suggest that the NDC government go back to the PWC proposal and have a look. Some time has elapsed since its original formulation so there may be the need for some review and adjustments. In the absence of a better alternative, I believe that should do the trick for GIA.
Feature Article of Tuesday, 2 June 2009
It is reported that the ‘Osagyefo’ used to order flights with no passengers on board just to show the rest of the world that we, as Africans, could fly. Never mind whether it made sense economically or not. So with such a ‘rich’ history is it any wonder that subsequent managements (Ghanaian) over the years decided to treat the airline like a ‘fat cow’ that never runs out of milk?-Free tickets for employees and their families; bonuses upon bonuses for employees even in the face of nonperformance and mismanagement. Nobody cared whether these practices were sustainable or not. We all sat down and watched as these practices went on. And like any business built on such a model, the end was inevitable. It all came crashing down and what a heavy fall that was. And just like Ghanaians, we all suddenly became airline experts. Everybody had the perfect plan to salvage the collapsed airline, Ghana Airways. The NDC had the opportunity to overhaul the ‘system’ but its interventions fell short. Finally the then new government of the NPP decided to tackle the problem head-on. Among the number of proposals put forward was one by PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PWC). Personally, I believed that proposal from PWC was the best out of the lot. The government of Ghana was going to pay PWC a rather princely amount of money and in exchange have PWC manage and run the national airline for a number of years. PWC hoped to turn around the fortunes of the airline, by which time management reverts to the government. But before anybody could say jack, contents of the proposal had leaked to the media and all hell broke loose. I remember a particular journalist boasting on radio how he ‘intercepted’ the documents between the offices of PWC (then at the Gulf House) and the Castle. What was the noise about??? Oh, the money involved in the contract was too much. How could the government give so much money to PWC just to manage Ghana Airways? Are there not competent and qualified Ghanaians out there who could turn the company around? (Forget that it was the same ‘competent and qualified’ Ghanaians who had ran the company aground in the first place). On and on and on, it went. Instead of the government standing its ground and finding better ways of explaining to ordinary Ghanaians why it was necessary to take such a measure, they capitulated and that marked the end of the deal. I bet, that to the NPP, they were just being the ‘listening’ government they had promised to be. That argument does not hold water as far as I am concerned, but who am I anyway?-Just a proud Ghanaian who wants to see his country succeed!! That was one big disappointment if ever there was one. Where did that leave us? Well here we are with GIA that seems incapable of getting off the ground. I would say ‘ayekoo’ to that journalist who spearheaded the campaign against PWC. He knows who he is. I believe he is proud of himself now, and I want to believe also that he flies GIA anytime he travels!! What hypocrisy!!! In Ghana we are not ready to pay for a viable national airline, but we have no problem paying huge amounts of money to expatriates to coach our national football team. Apparently, a football team is more important than an airline. We would gladly dish out bonuses to footballers for winning one match but we cannot pay our medical staff to work in the rural areas. We would even promise winning bonuses to these players even before they kick the ball, and that’s also fine but our teachers can shout themselves hoarse about improved conditions of service and nobody cares. This is Ghana; we have our own unique set of priorities!! Well, maybe we believe we can always travel by Air Morrocco or South African Airways or some other airline but we cannot pay the Hawks of Togo to play in our stead. Priorities? What priorities??
The media has a very important role to play in our present attempt at ‘democracy’ but shouldn’t their criticisms and attacks be based on objective facts? Should they just be interested in running to the presses or to the airwaves at the first hint of ‘news’? Are they not required to inform and educate the populace? How do they ‘inform and educate’ if they don’t go the extra step of digging deeper? As a country, if we continue on this path, we would be going nowhere! We cannot continue to ‘beat ourselves into a frenzy’ anytime we disagree with a policy of the government. We need reasoned and intelligent discussions by experts (in the true sense of the word) on issues and not so-called ‘analyses’ by ‘talking heads’ on radio and T.V.
It was a similar story with the rather infamous CNTC (?) loan. Governments all over the world have the option of borrowing from the Bretton Woods Institutions or from the private capital market. In fact studies show that it is better borrowing from the latter. Private capital markets tend to have favourable and concessionary rates and terms. I think it was a wise policy decision when the NPP government decided to go that route and leave the IMF and its cousins to their devices. But unlike these institutions, private capital markets may not have straightforward locations and addresses. The reason being that these private entities try to ‘hide’ their monies from their respective government, in order to dodge paying taxes. So they carry these monies to accounts in Liechtenstein, Bahamas, Monaco and other known and unknown tax havens. So if the address of such an entity happens to show a beauty salon, what has that got to do with the money itself? Do they have the money or not? Can they deliver on the rates agreed on or not? These were the pertinent issues that needed to be raised; instead we spent the whole time shouting malfeasance and misappropriation. Led by the media, the people and, of course, the opposition ‘milked’ the situation for all it was worth. Meanwhile the government was in a dilemma because they were not in the position to reveal such details about a potential lender to the whole world. In the end Ghana did not get the money and I guess we are the better for it, right?
We are no saints and we should stop pretending that we are. The world is not fair and the mantra is” eat or be eaten”. We should be aggressive and, at all times, seek our own interest as a country. Now I hear the government has gone back to the IMF, even when we (Ghana) have documented and experiential evidence of their inimical policies towards Africa. Interestingly, I have heard no objections from Kwesi Pratt and the Third World Network of Dr. Graham. I thought they were for internal revenue generation and self-reliance. Yeah, talk is always cheap!
For GIA, I would like to suggest that the NDC government go back to the PWC proposal and have a look. Some time has elapsed since its original formulation so there may be the need for some review and adjustments. In the absence of a better alternative, I believe that should do the trick for GIA.
Feature Article of Tuesday, 2 June 2009
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Accountants running an Airline?
Hi Wizard, I can sort of understand where you are coming from, 
but I would rather aviation experts and I mean real experts, tried and tested in the cauldron of world aviation, are put in charge of any airline. PWC are welcome to audit their accounts anyday.
but I would rather aviation experts and I mean real experts, tried and tested in the cauldron of world aviation, are put in charge of any airline. PWC are welcome to audit their accounts anyday.
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Analysing what Ghanaians are commenting in that article does not bode well for the airline. I just tried their website - and the online reservation is still "under construction" just as it was 2 years ago but the article suggests otherwise.
Small boy in big man's shoes -
Small boy in big man's shoes -
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GIA crew jailed 8 years for drugs in UK
A Ghana International Airlines cabin crew member Kwaku Asante Ayirebi has been jailed eight years in London for attempting to smuggle drugs into the UK.
The 30-year-old Ghanaian was charged after cocaine with an estimated street value of £98,000 was found in his luggage at the Gatwick Airport in July.
He pleaded guilty to importing cocaine into that country.
Officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) discovered the drugs, weighing about two kilos, in baggage that had arrived on a Ghana International Airways flight from Accra.
Source:
www.Myjoyonline.com
General News of Monday, 12 October 2009
The 30-year-old Ghanaian was charged after cocaine with an estimated street value of £98,000 was found in his luggage at the Gatwick Airport in July.
He pleaded guilty to importing cocaine into that country.
Officers from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) discovered the drugs, weighing about two kilos, in baggage that had arrived on a Ghana International Airways flight from Accra.
Source:
www.Myjoyonline.com
General News of Monday, 12 October 2009
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Ghana Government withdraws $1.5M monthly subsidy
GIA Is A Loss Making Entity
Unless the current operators of Ghana International Airline (GIA) raise some external credit to support its operations, the Airline may have to wind up its operations.
This follows a decision by the government to withdraw a 1.5 million dollar monthly subsidy it has supported the Airline with since its inception.
GIA has constantly been running at a loss and now the government says it cannot continue to pour money into an endless pit.
The government has been studying a report of the Transaction Advisors, Fidelity Bank which suggests the Airline is bound to be grounded.
After four years of operation, GIA does not have an Air Operator’s Certificate. It has no aircraft of its own.
GIA has been operating a charter service based on permit from Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. Flights are operated by Astreaus Airlines, a UK Service at a cost level that will forever make it difficult and impossible for GIA to even break even.
The Minister of Information, Zita Okaikoi told Citi News that the NDC government has given adequate notice to the operators of its decision to withdraw the 1.5 Million dollar subsidy.
She said the government is exploring other ways to keep the airline flying; one option is a private Public Partnership.
“GIA is a loss making entity so we are rather going to encourage private partners to come in to form a National Airline…we are looking at a situation where we have private business people coming in to run the airline.” She said.
Meanwhile, the Minority Share Holder, GIA USA says it is unperturbed about the latest development.
Its law suit against the government over its 30 % shares still lingers on at the International Court of Justice and that whether the government withdraws subsidies or not the case, according to Sammy Crabbe, will go ahead.
The Lead Minority Shareholder for GIA USA, Sammy Crabbe told Citi News that Ghana will eventually be the loser if it goes ahead to run GIA down.
“If anything at all, our claims will even go higher if they should run down the company because they took over the company and run it down so it doesn’t hurt us in anyway. What is does is, it hurts Ghana” He said
Source:
Citifmonline
General News of Friday, 23 October 2009
Unless the current operators of Ghana International Airline (GIA) raise some external credit to support its operations, the Airline may have to wind up its operations.
This follows a decision by the government to withdraw a 1.5 million dollar monthly subsidy it has supported the Airline with since its inception.
GIA has constantly been running at a loss and now the government says it cannot continue to pour money into an endless pit.
The government has been studying a report of the Transaction Advisors, Fidelity Bank which suggests the Airline is bound to be grounded.
After four years of operation, GIA does not have an Air Operator’s Certificate. It has no aircraft of its own.
GIA has been operating a charter service based on permit from Ghana Civil Aviation Authority. Flights are operated by Astreaus Airlines, a UK Service at a cost level that will forever make it difficult and impossible for GIA to even break even.
The Minister of Information, Zita Okaikoi told Citi News that the NDC government has given adequate notice to the operators of its decision to withdraw the 1.5 Million dollar subsidy.
She said the government is exploring other ways to keep the airline flying; one option is a private Public Partnership.
“GIA is a loss making entity so we are rather going to encourage private partners to come in to form a National Airline…we are looking at a situation where we have private business people coming in to run the airline.” She said.
Meanwhile, the Minority Share Holder, GIA USA says it is unperturbed about the latest development.
Its law suit against the government over its 30 % shares still lingers on at the International Court of Justice and that whether the government withdraws subsidies or not the case, according to Sammy Crabbe, will go ahead.
The Lead Minority Shareholder for GIA USA, Sammy Crabbe told Citi News that Ghana will eventually be the loser if it goes ahead to run GIA down.
“If anything at all, our claims will even go higher if they should run down the company because they took over the company and run it down so it doesn’t hurt us in anyway. What is does is, it hurts Ghana” He said
Source:
Citifmonline
General News of Friday, 23 October 2009
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Ghana International Airlines to Continue Operations
ACCRA, 23 October 2009 – The management of Ghana International Airlines (GIA) writes in reference to the various media reports on Thursday, 22nd October 2009.
The Cabinet decision referred to in the media reports has given Ghana International Airlines the lifeline to become self-sustaining from January 2010. We are thankful to the Government for such a positive decision.
This lifeline implies that the airline can now seek strategic partners for capitalization and further development of the airline.
Since March this year when Government withdrew support raising uncertainty about the airlines’ future, GIA has continued to operate and has improved on its services.
Since the year 2008, we have been adjudged the number one longhaul airline at Kotoka International Airport in Accra for on-time performance with an 85% on-time record. 95% of our flights operate within one hour of schedule”. (Source: Track Flight Status, Airport Delays and other Flight and Airport Information)
Our other performance indicators such as load factor and baggage delivery have improved and are comparable to any major airline.
We wish to assure our valued patrons and the general public that the airline shall continue to guarantee provision of the services we promise to deliver.
Furthermore, management urges customers and the public alike to watch out for our Christmas promotional fares.
GHANA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES EXPERIENCE IT ! ! BELIEVE IT ! ! !
Source: Ghana International Airlines Limited, Private Mail Bag 78, K.I.A., Accra, Ghana Tel: +233-21-213555 x1501 | Fax: +233-21-767744 | Internet: www.fly-ghana.com
ENDS
General News of Tuesday, 27 October 2009
The Cabinet decision referred to in the media reports has given Ghana International Airlines the lifeline to become self-sustaining from January 2010. We are thankful to the Government for such a positive decision.
This lifeline implies that the airline can now seek strategic partners for capitalization and further development of the airline.
Since March this year when Government withdrew support raising uncertainty about the airlines’ future, GIA has continued to operate and has improved on its services.
Since the year 2008, we have been adjudged the number one longhaul airline at Kotoka International Airport in Accra for on-time performance with an 85% on-time record. 95% of our flights operate within one hour of schedule”. (Source: Track Flight Status, Airport Delays and other Flight and Airport Information)
Our other performance indicators such as load factor and baggage delivery have improved and are comparable to any major airline.
We wish to assure our valued patrons and the general public that the airline shall continue to guarantee provision of the services we promise to deliver.
Furthermore, management urges customers and the public alike to watch out for our Christmas promotional fares.
GHANA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES EXPERIENCE IT ! ! BELIEVE IT ! ! !
Source: Ghana International Airlines Limited, Private Mail Bag 78, K.I.A., Accra, Ghana Tel: +233-21-213555 x1501 | Fax: +233-21-767744 | Internet: www.fly-ghana.com
ENDS
General News of Tuesday, 27 October 2009
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GIA makes emergency landing in Algeria
An Astraeus Boeing 757-200 on behalf of Ghana International Airlines, registration G-STRZ performing flight G0-101 from Accra (Ghana) to London Gatwick,EN (UK) with 115 passengers, was enroute overhead Algeria, when the crew detected a hydraulics failure following an explosion like sound. The crew diverted to Algiers (Algeria), where the airplane landed safely.
A replacement Boeing 737-300 registration G-STRJ is estimated to reach London as flight G0-101A with a delay of 2:15 hours.
GIA flight's landing was 'precautionary' -GIA
Ghana International Airlines says its London-bound flight’s emergency landing early Saturday in Algeria was ‘precautionary.’
The pilot is said to have made an emergency landing after he detected a “fault in the hydraulic system of the flight,” Chief Executive Gifty Annan-Myers told Accra-based radio station JOYFM.
Passengers said they heard a loud explosion but authorities said there were no casualties.
Most of the 115 aboard were said to be in a state of shock.
The passengers awaited another aircraft to fly them to London, their final destination.
Mrs Annan-Myers said a backup flight in Italy was set to airlift the passengers to Gatwick.
The flight from (Lybia) should touch down at Gatwick by 7:30pm, the GIA boss Gifty Annan-Myers told JoyFM.
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GIA makes emergency landing in Algeria | General News 2010-02-06
A replacement Boeing 737-300 registration G-STRJ is estimated to reach London as flight G0-101A with a delay of 2:15 hours.
GIA flight's landing was 'precautionary' -GIA
Ghana International Airlines says its London-bound flight’s emergency landing early Saturday in Algeria was ‘precautionary.’
The pilot is said to have made an emergency landing after he detected a “fault in the hydraulic system of the flight,” Chief Executive Gifty Annan-Myers told Accra-based radio station JOYFM.
Passengers said they heard a loud explosion but authorities said there were no casualties.
Most of the 115 aboard were said to be in a state of shock.
The passengers awaited another aircraft to fly them to London, their final destination.
Mrs Annan-Myers said a backup flight in Italy was set to airlift the passengers to Gatwick.
The flight from (Lybia) should touch down at Gatwick by 7:30pm, the GIA boss Gifty Annan-Myers told JoyFM.
Comments:
This article has 101 comments
GIA makes emergency landing in Algeria | General News 2010-02-06
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GIA Corruption Trial of three Ex-Ministers opens
Trial of three Ex-Ministers opens
Accra, March 31 GNA - The Trial of three Former Ministers and a Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of New Patriotic Party (NPP) opened on Wednesday at an Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Mr Justice Bright Mensah.
The four are Richard Anane, Former Minister of Transport; Anthony Akoto Osei, Former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, Former Chief of Staff and Samuel Crabbe, Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NPP.
Five others were expected to appear with them but they were not present in court. They are Mr Ralf Atkins; Kirk Heaton; Albert Vitali and Brain Brisby, all Former Directors of Ghana International Airlines Limited (GIAL) and Professor Gyan Baffour, Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
The four have been charged with stealing, causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer regarding the roles they played in the formation of GIAL and the subsequent liquidation of Ghana Airways.
Anane and Crabbe, who is also President of Unger Oaks Limited, minority shareholders of the GIAL, have been additionally charged with wilfully causing financial loss to the State to the tune of $4.9 million.
Akoto Osei was also charged with six additional counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to self-recognizance bail of Gh¢ 300,000 each to reappear on April 26, 2010. Prosecuting, Ms Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said Anane misrepresented facts on GIAL, which was then not in existence, to the Cabinet of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and misled the then Government to pay shares into a fraudulent Company. She said the action of Anane subsequently led to the liquidation of Ghana Airways.
She said Anane declared that four companies had expressed interest in the then Ghana Airways and later presented a letter of intent, which was signed between the Government of Ghana and the GIAL to form a new company called the New Ghana Airways (NGA), although the GIAL was at that time not in existence. Ms Aikins said although the memorandum Anane presented to Cabinet to sign was dated September 9, 2004, the GIA was not in existence as at that date.
She said although the PriceWaterhouseCoopers had rated the NGA, which had signed an agreement with the Government to form the GIAL, third after KLM and Ghanair, two other companies which had submitted their bid for the take over of Ghana Airways, the NGA won the bid.
She said Mpiani, on June 2, 2005, wrote to the Chairman of the Government Taskforce on Ghana Airways Limited authorizing the Taskforce to take all necessary steps to put the Airline into formal liquidation.
Ms Aikins said Akoto Osei signed a loan agreement committing the Government to a financial obligation of paying GH¢15 million from the Social Security= and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to GIAL.
She said Akoto Osei gave the SSNIT amount to the GIAL as a loan, with= out parliamentary approval and at a time when the minority shareholders of the Airline had abandoned the Company by withdrawing an amount of $1.9 million from the
GIAL account without the consent of the majority shareholder (government of Ghana).
Ms Aikins said Mr Mpiani authorized the release of an amount of $6.0= million to GIAL in September 2008 without parliamentary approval. According to the Prosecution Crabbe, who represented the minority shareholders in the Company, on June 27, 2005 withdrew $1.9 million from the Government of Ghana's account, without approval from the Government (the Majority Shareholder).
She said GIAL was subsequently formed as a joint venture between the Government of Ghana and GIA/USA/LLC, as a result of which the GIAL had its maiden flight on October 29, 2005.
Mr Jacob Acquah-Sampson, Counsel for Anane rejected the claims of the Prosecution and said the facts of the case did not support the assertions.. He prayed the Court that his client be admitted to a self-recognizance bail because he was a law-abiding citizen and had so far cooperated with the Government throughout the investigations.
Mr Kwame Boateng, Counsel for Crabbe said his client's trial was occasioned by malice and nothing else.
He said the Prosecution was aware that the same case was before the International Court of Justice at the Hague and that the facts presented by the Prosecution were just a reproduction of what was going on at that Court. Mr Atta Akyea, Counsel for Akoto Osei said the facts presented by the= Prosecution were mere propaganda.
He questioned whether it was wrong for a Minister to obey Parliament's instruction to issue funds to an ailing Company? And whether he should be accused of causing a loss to the State?
Mr Ellison Owusu-Fordjour, Counsel for Mpiani, said his client as the Chief of Staff did not do anything in his own capacity but acted on the authority of the= Executive arm of Government.
He said monies alleged to have been released by his client to GIAL was done in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet and that he did not act in his own name.
Former President Kufuor was at the Court to give moral support to those on trial.
Trial of three Ex-Ministers opens | General News 2010-03-31
Sammy Crabbe: gov’t has goofed in charging me
Sammy Crabbe: gov?t has goofed in charging me | General News 2010-03-31
Gyan-Baffour pleads not guilty in GIA trial
Accra, April 26, GNA - George Gyan-Baffour, former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, on Monday pleaded not guilty to causing financial loss to the State, in the Ghana International Airline Limited (GIAL) saga.
This was after prosecution joined him in the suit soon after withdrawing and substituting the facts and charge sheet before an Accra Fast Track High Court (FTHC) presided over by Mr. Justice Bright Mensah on Monday.
He was admitted to GH¢300,000 self recognisance bail.
On March 31, three former Ministers of State and former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) appeared before the court to face a number of charges, including causing financial loss to the State. The four are Richard Winfred Anane, former Minister of Transport;
Anthony Akoto-Osei, former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance a= nd Economic Planning; Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, former Chief of Staff and Samuel=
Crabbe, former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NPP. Four other accused persons Ralf Atkins; Kirk Heaton; Albert Vitali and Brain Brisby, all former directors of GIAL were not in court.
All the accused person have been charged with stealing, causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer regarding the roles they played in the formation of GIAL and the subsequent liquidation of Ghana Airways.
Crabbe, who is also President of Unger Oaks Limited, minority shareholders of GIAL, and Anane have been additionally charged with wilfu= lly causing financial loss to the State to the tune of about 4.9 million dollars.
Crabbe is being held solely for opening an offshore account, without authority from the Bank of Ghana, conspiracy to steal and stealing. Akoto-Osei has six additional charges of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer and misapplication of public funds.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges; and admitted to self recognisance bail of GH¢300,000 each.
Defence counsels have denied the charges preferred against their clients= .. Meanwhile the court has excused Akoto-Osei, who is also Member of Parliament of Tafo-Pankrono to travel to Tanzania, after details had been furnished to the court by the Clerk of Parliament. Prosecuting, Ms Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecutions, said Dr Anane misrepresented facts on GIAL, which was then not in existence, to the Cabinet of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and misled the then Government to pay shares into a fraudulent company.
She said Dr Anane's action subsequently led to the liquidation of Ghana Airways.
The prosecution said Dr Anane declared that four companies had expressed interest in Ghana Airways and later presented a letter of intent, which was signed between the Government of Ghana and GIAL to form a new company called New Ghana Airways (NGA), although GIAL was at that time not in existence.
Ms Aikins said although the memorandum Dr Anane presented to Cabinet to sign was dated September 9, 2004, GIA was not in existence at that date. She said although management of PriceWaterhouseCoopers had rated NGA, which had signed an agreement with the Government to form GIAL, third after KLM and Ghanair; two other companies which had submitted their bids to take over Ghana Airways, NGA won the bid.
Ms Aikins said Mpiani, on June 2, 2005, wrote to the Chairman of Government Taskforce on Ghana Airways Limited authorising the taskforce to take all necessary steps to put the airline into formal liquidation.
She said Akoto-Osei signed a loan agreement committing the Government to a financial obligation of paying GH¢15 million from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust to GIAL.
Ms Aikins said Dr Akoto-Osei gave the amount from SSNIT to GIAL as a=
loan, without Parliamentary approval and at a time when the minority shareholders of the airline had abandoned the company by withdrawing 1.9 million dollars from GIAL account without the consent of the majority shareholder, Government of Ghana.
She said Mr Mpiani authorised the release of six million dollars to GIAL in September 2008 without Parliamentary approval.
According to the prosecution Crabbe, who represented the minority shareholders in the company, on June 27, 2005 withdrew 1.9 million dollar= s from the Government of Ghana's account, without approval from the Governm= ent (the Majority Shareholder). The case was adjourned to Monday, May 10.
Gyan-Baffour pleads not guilty in GIA trial | General News 2010-04-26
GIA trial: Mpiani, others now face 22 charges
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Gertrude Aikins has reviewed to 22 the number of charges against five ex-government officials in the ongoing Ghana International Airlines trial.
She had early on preffered 13 charges at the first adjourned date, but excluded Prof Gyan Baffuor, former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry who was said to be at large, but had not at the time been charged.
He made his first appearance in court on Monday with a total of six charges, including causing financial loss to the state and deceit of a public officer.
Former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei leads the pack of accused with a total of nine counts, including causing financial loss to the state and deceit of public officers.
He had early on been charged with seven counts.
According to the DPP, the two connived to get Parliament to approve an amount of $16m for the running of the airline at a time it was deemed not viable.
Joy News correspondent Araba Koomson, reports that five other charges have been slapped on the former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party and minority shareholder, Sammy Crabbe.
He is alleged to have withdrawn an amount of $1.7 million from government accounts without due authorisation.
The other defendants are Richard Anane, former Roads and Transport Minister and Kwadwo Mpiani, ex-chief of Staff under the Kufuor regime.
The five have been handed a GH¢300,000 bail each to reappear on May 10, 2010.
GIA trial: Mpiani, others now face 22 charges | General News 2010-04-26
Accra, March 31 GNA - The Trial of three Former Ministers and a Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of New Patriotic Party (NPP) opened on Wednesday at an Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Mr Justice Bright Mensah.
The four are Richard Anane, Former Minister of Transport; Anthony Akoto Osei, Former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, Former Chief of Staff and Samuel Crabbe, Former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NPP.
Five others were expected to appear with them but they were not present in court. They are Mr Ralf Atkins; Kirk Heaton; Albert Vitali and Brain Brisby, all Former Directors of Ghana International Airlines Limited (GIAL) and Professor Gyan Baffour, Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.
The four have been charged with stealing, causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer regarding the roles they played in the formation of GIAL and the subsequent liquidation of Ghana Airways.
Anane and Crabbe, who is also President of Unger Oaks Limited, minority shareholders of the GIAL, have been additionally charged with wilfully causing financial loss to the State to the tune of $4.9 million.
Akoto Osei was also charged with six additional counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to self-recognizance bail of Gh¢ 300,000 each to reappear on April 26, 2010. Prosecuting, Ms Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said Anane misrepresented facts on GIAL, which was then not in existence, to the Cabinet of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and misled the then Government to pay shares into a fraudulent Company. She said the action of Anane subsequently led to the liquidation of Ghana Airways.
She said Anane declared that four companies had expressed interest in the then Ghana Airways and later presented a letter of intent, which was signed between the Government of Ghana and the GIAL to form a new company called the New Ghana Airways (NGA), although the GIAL was at that time not in existence. Ms Aikins said although the memorandum Anane presented to Cabinet to sign was dated September 9, 2004, the GIA was not in existence as at that date.
She said although the PriceWaterhouseCoopers had rated the NGA, which had signed an agreement with the Government to form the GIAL, third after KLM and Ghanair, two other companies which had submitted their bid for the take over of Ghana Airways, the NGA won the bid.
She said Mpiani, on June 2, 2005, wrote to the Chairman of the Government Taskforce on Ghana Airways Limited authorizing the Taskforce to take all necessary steps to put the Airline into formal liquidation.
Ms Aikins said Akoto Osei signed a loan agreement committing the Government to a financial obligation of paying GH¢15 million from the Social Security= and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to GIAL.
She said Akoto Osei gave the SSNIT amount to the GIAL as a loan, with= out parliamentary approval and at a time when the minority shareholders of the Airline had abandoned the Company by withdrawing an amount of $1.9 million from the
GIAL account without the consent of the majority shareholder (government of Ghana).
Ms Aikins said Mr Mpiani authorized the release of an amount of $6.0= million to GIAL in September 2008 without parliamentary approval. According to the Prosecution Crabbe, who represented the minority shareholders in the Company, on June 27, 2005 withdrew $1.9 million from the Government of Ghana's account, without approval from the Government (the Majority Shareholder).
She said GIAL was subsequently formed as a joint venture between the Government of Ghana and GIA/USA/LLC, as a result of which the GIAL had its maiden flight on October 29, 2005.
Mr Jacob Acquah-Sampson, Counsel for Anane rejected the claims of the Prosecution and said the facts of the case did not support the assertions.. He prayed the Court that his client be admitted to a self-recognizance bail because he was a law-abiding citizen and had so far cooperated with the Government throughout the investigations.
Mr Kwame Boateng, Counsel for Crabbe said his client's trial was occasioned by malice and nothing else.
He said the Prosecution was aware that the same case was before the International Court of Justice at the Hague and that the facts presented by the Prosecution were just a reproduction of what was going on at that Court. Mr Atta Akyea, Counsel for Akoto Osei said the facts presented by the= Prosecution were mere propaganda.
He questioned whether it was wrong for a Minister to obey Parliament's instruction to issue funds to an ailing Company? And whether he should be accused of causing a loss to the State?
Mr Ellison Owusu-Fordjour, Counsel for Mpiani, said his client as the Chief of Staff did not do anything in his own capacity but acted on the authority of the= Executive arm of Government.
He said monies alleged to have been released by his client to GIAL was done in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet and that he did not act in his own name.
Former President Kufuor was at the Court to give moral support to those on trial.
Trial of three Ex-Ministers opens | General News 2010-03-31
Sammy Crabbe: gov’t has goofed in charging me
Sammy Crabbe: gov?t has goofed in charging me | General News 2010-03-31
Gyan-Baffour pleads not guilty in GIA trial
Accra, April 26, GNA - George Gyan-Baffour, former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, on Monday pleaded not guilty to causing financial loss to the State, in the Ghana International Airline Limited (GIAL) saga.
This was after prosecution joined him in the suit soon after withdrawing and substituting the facts and charge sheet before an Accra Fast Track High Court (FTHC) presided over by Mr. Justice Bright Mensah on Monday.
He was admitted to GH¢300,000 self recognisance bail.
On March 31, three former Ministers of State and former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) appeared before the court to face a number of charges, including causing financial loss to the State. The four are Richard Winfred Anane, former Minister of Transport;
Anthony Akoto-Osei, former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance a= nd Economic Planning; Kwadwo Okyere Mpiani, former Chief of Staff and Samuel=
Crabbe, former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of NPP. Four other accused persons Ralf Atkins; Kirk Heaton; Albert Vitali and Brain Brisby, all former directors of GIAL were not in court.
All the accused person have been charged with stealing, causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer regarding the roles they played in the formation of GIAL and the subsequent liquidation of Ghana Airways.
Crabbe, who is also President of Unger Oaks Limited, minority shareholders of GIAL, and Anane have been additionally charged with wilfu= lly causing financial loss to the State to the tune of about 4.9 million dollars.
Crabbe is being held solely for opening an offshore account, without authority from the Bank of Ghana, conspiracy to steal and stealing. Akoto-Osei has six additional charges of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, fraud and deceit of public officer and misapplication of public funds.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges; and admitted to self recognisance bail of GH¢300,000 each.
Defence counsels have denied the charges preferred against their clients= .. Meanwhile the court has excused Akoto-Osei, who is also Member of Parliament of Tafo-Pankrono to travel to Tanzania, after details had been furnished to the court by the Clerk of Parliament. Prosecuting, Ms Gertrude Aikins, Director of Public Prosecutions, said Dr Anane misrepresented facts on GIAL, which was then not in existence, to the Cabinet of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and misled the then Government to pay shares into a fraudulent company.
She said Dr Anane's action subsequently led to the liquidation of Ghana Airways.
The prosecution said Dr Anane declared that four companies had expressed interest in Ghana Airways and later presented a letter of intent, which was signed between the Government of Ghana and GIAL to form a new company called New Ghana Airways (NGA), although GIAL was at that time not in existence.
Ms Aikins said although the memorandum Dr Anane presented to Cabinet to sign was dated September 9, 2004, GIA was not in existence at that date. She said although management of PriceWaterhouseCoopers had rated NGA, which had signed an agreement with the Government to form GIAL, third after KLM and Ghanair; two other companies which had submitted their bids to take over Ghana Airways, NGA won the bid.
Ms Aikins said Mpiani, on June 2, 2005, wrote to the Chairman of Government Taskforce on Ghana Airways Limited authorising the taskforce to take all necessary steps to put the airline into formal liquidation.
She said Akoto-Osei signed a loan agreement committing the Government to a financial obligation of paying GH¢15 million from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust to GIAL.
Ms Aikins said Dr Akoto-Osei gave the amount from SSNIT to GIAL as a=
loan, without Parliamentary approval and at a time when the minority shareholders of the airline had abandoned the company by withdrawing 1.9 million dollars from GIAL account without the consent of the majority shareholder, Government of Ghana.
She said Mr Mpiani authorised the release of six million dollars to GIAL in September 2008 without Parliamentary approval.
According to the prosecution Crabbe, who represented the minority shareholders in the company, on June 27, 2005 withdrew 1.9 million dollar= s from the Government of Ghana's account, without approval from the Governm= ent (the Majority Shareholder). The case was adjourned to Monday, May 10.
Gyan-Baffour pleads not guilty in GIA trial | General News 2010-04-26
GIA trial: Mpiani, others now face 22 charges
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Gertrude Aikins has reviewed to 22 the number of charges against five ex-government officials in the ongoing Ghana International Airlines trial.
She had early on preffered 13 charges at the first adjourned date, but excluded Prof Gyan Baffuor, former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry who was said to be at large, but had not at the time been charged.
He made his first appearance in court on Monday with a total of six charges, including causing financial loss to the state and deceit of a public officer.
Former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei leads the pack of accused with a total of nine counts, including causing financial loss to the state and deceit of public officers.
He had early on been charged with seven counts.
According to the DPP, the two connived to get Parliament to approve an amount of $16m for the running of the airline at a time it was deemed not viable.
Joy News correspondent Araba Koomson, reports that five other charges have been slapped on the former Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party and minority shareholder, Sammy Crabbe.
He is alleged to have withdrawn an amount of $1.7 million from government accounts without due authorisation.
The other defendants are Richard Anane, former Roads and Transport Minister and Kwadwo Mpiani, ex-chief of Staff under the Kufuor regime.
The five have been handed a GH¢300,000 bail each to reappear on May 10, 2010.
GIA trial: Mpiani, others now face 22 charges | General News 2010-04-26
Last edited by Wizard; 26th Apr 2010 at 22:29.