Ordeal Of A Ghanair Pilot

As the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Ghana Airways make frantic efforts to unravel the mystery of the reported death of two persons aboard a Ghanair flight to Heathrow Airport, Ghanair may be compelled to investigate another incident involving Capt. Dagbe, the captain of the said flight and a certain Ola Durojaiye at the same airport.

The Captain’s Voyage report submitted by Capt. Dagbe to Ghanair authorities on the return flight from Heathrow on December 1, 2002 which is in the possession of this paper exposes indiscipline and total disregard for authority by the said Ola Durojaiye, a.k.a. Ola Danquah. The Independent had previously reported that the William Panford-Bray led management at Ghana Airways had surreptitiously appointed the said Ola Durojaiye as ‘Special Operations Consultant’ at the cost of over 12,000 pounds sterling for a six months contract to streamline the airline’s operations regarding excess baggage and other related matters.

According to Capt. Dagbe’s Voyage Report, the aircraft, a D.C. 10 “arrived at Heathrow with two stowaways dead. The airport authorities and Police cordoned the aircraft to remove the bodies. The flight was scheduled to depart the following day, December 1, 2002”. Captain Dagbe’s Voyage Report continued that during the check-in by Crew for the return flight,”… I was at the end of the line. I moved to the front to tell those checking to hurry up since there was weather moving in.” this was where his problems started. According to the Voyage, Report, “All of a sudden, a man I do not know jumped across the counter in an aggressive mood to confront me that he was working under instructions from the CEO (Mr. Bray).”

The Report continues thus: “I asked him whether he knew he was talking to the Captain?” In responding to this, Durojaiye, who was brought into the Ghana Airways under very controversial circumstances threw a tantrum without regard for the passengers, airline officials and crew who were looking on, blurted “F*** You” at Captain Dagbe. The Voyage Report also mentions that Durojaiye, not satisfied, repeated the expletive to the shock and horror of the onlookers. Capt. Dagbe maintained in his Voyage Report that Durojaiye also claimed that he is a Ghana Army Officer with the rank of Colonel. Capt. Dagbe, who is a retired Officer of the Ghana Air Force, maintained that “When I asked him for his regimental number, he did not know it nor has none.”

In expressing indignation at the rude behaviour of Durojaiye, Capt. Dagbe also stated in his Voyage Report that “As a retired Ghana Airforce Officer, I know an Officer or Colonel would never behave the way he did. If I had not been in uniform, both of us would have ended up in the hands of the British Police”. Finally, Capt. Dagbe concluded his Voyage Report to the Ghanair management thus, “I wish to state that I shall find it difficult to work with an employee of Ghana Airways, if he s one, who can tell a Captain ‘F*** you”.

Enquiries at Ghana Airways since the story broke have revealed that Mr. Panford Bray has for the past few weeks claimed to have paid Durojaiye off since The Independent broke the story about his ridiculous contract which cost the cash strapped airline over 12,000 pounds sterling. The question then on the lips of many Ghanair staff is” “if Mr. Bray is to be taken for his word, what was Durojaiye doing at Heathrow supervising check-in at the Ghana Airways counter?” Ghanair staff, have since Durojaiye joined the airline raised alarm about what they perceive to be his false military credentials and the mode used in engaging and paying commissioned Officer of the Ghana Armed Forces and a Ranger. Some Ghana Airways passengers on the said flight who were contacted by The Independent have condemned the action of Durojaiye and called on the airline’s management to deal with him.

Meanwhile, The Independent has made interesting and fresh discoveries about goings on at Ghana Airways in relation to Transport Minster Dr. Richard Anane and some payments made on behalf of the national carrier.

Yet another interesting development is a phone call from a certain Mr. Osei Wusu who called our Managing Editor on phone last Monday evening to issue threats about this and Transport Minister Dr. R.W. Anane. The said Mr. Osei did not even have the courtesy to introduce himself until after persistent demands from our Managing Editor got him to do so and described himself as the “Lawyer of Dr. Anane.” As at press time, we had not spoken to Dr. Anane to verify whether he has personal lawyer by such a name.

However, the Managing Editor reached the said Mr. Osei Wusu on the number (with held for now) he used to call moments after he called him to protest his threats and the fact that no amount of intimidation will cow his and the paper’s resolve to ensure that the right things are done in the matter of the choice of a strategic/joint venture partner for Ghana Airways.