Canary Islands appeals to Ghana Airways to resume flights

The Canary Islands on Wednesday appealed to Ghana Airways to resume its weekly flights to the islands to facilitate trade and tourism between the two countries.

Mr Angel Ferrera Martinez, President of the Las Palmas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation, said the Islands had been trying to solve problems of marine and air transportation between the two countries to increase export.

Mr Ferrera, who is heading a Spanish business delegation for the fourth Spanish products' exhibition in Accra, was speaking with the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Abu-Bakar Saddique Boniface. He said the Islands were particularly interested in investing in tourism, agro-processing, construction and services sector.

Mr Ferrera noted the steady rise in the participation in the exhibition and said they were also interested in taking advantage of the serene political climate and economic liberalisation to increase humanitarian assistance through the Spanish embassy.

It was important for the Ghana Chamber of Commerce to increase protocol collaboration signed with the islands 10 years ago he said and extended an invitation to the Deputy Minister to participate in two upcoming fairs in the Canary Islands, one of which comes off next month and the other next April.

Mr Boniface said the governments was bent on giving practical meaning to her declaration of the Golden Age of Business and gave the assurance that the issue of re-opening the weekly flight by Ghana Airways would be given a ministerial and cabinet consideration.

He also assured the delegation of genuine business in Ghana, saying the improved judicial system did not give room for duping of any genuine investor.

He said there were vast potentials in the tourism sector, including eco-tourism and beach resorts and urged the Spaniards to see Ghana as the gateway to West Africa and transfer their expertise in tourism to Ghana.

He welcomed the intention of Spain and the Canary Islands to invest in the road sector and said government would do everything possible to entice Spanish investors to set up a local agency for distribution of SEAT cars.