New Airline won’t fail – Mahama tells critics

President John Mahama has dismissed fears that the new national airline being considered by his government will fail.

Former GIMPA boss, Professor Stephen Adei and IMANI Ghana are among Ghanaians who have expressed fears over the ability of government to manage a commercial airline.

But Mahama says government has put in place the appropriate measures to ensure that the project does not fail.

“For those who have apprehension I want to assure you even though it’s a new national airline, it is being done with the private sector. Government will be a minority shareholder and the airline company that we partner with will have absolute management control," the president stated when he cut sod for the expansion of the Tamale airport into an international standard, Tuesday.

According to the president, Ghana cannot afford to lose out on the “booming aviation business."

He said it is the view of government to allow the private sector take a lead role in the running of the new airline unlike in the case of the defunct Ghana Airways where government controlled the majority shares.