Rawlings' pal to lose air cargo monopoly

The national carrier, Ghana Airways and a coalition of indigenous private airline operators are the front-line organisations being considered to perform cargo-handing services at the Accra International airport, firming up the government's decision to liberalise that sector.

The decision is expected to crystalise this week when the government moves to abrogate the six-year-old contract existing between the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the African Ground Handling Operations (AFGO).

The contract, which was expected to end in 2004, made AFGO the sole cargo-handling operator in Ghana for ten years.

This is part of the government's decision at reviewing the monopoly being enjoyed by AFGO, a government sources confirmed to the Chronicle a week after Minister of Transport and Communication, Felix Agyepong dropped the hint.

The six odd years of monopoly has virtually killed the once fledgling local industry pioneered by Mr Safo of Combined Farms Limited fame.

The septuagenarian farmer raised a $5 million World Bank loan in the late 80's to build a warehouse to perform cargo services but his dream became short-lived.

A contingent of armed hot-headed revolutionary soldiers led by ex-President Jerry Rawlings stormed the airport and forcibly closed down the warehouse.

Unconfirmed reports indicate, that the intervention of Rawlings was contrived, ostensibly to pave the way for AFGO, said to belong to a Syrian national Marwan Traboulosi (MD of Air Ghana), who is a close buddy of the Rawlings.