Captain Boakye is Best Aviation Personnel 2001

Mrs. Essie Anno Sackey, Country Manager of British Airways who is also Chairperson of the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR), says "BAR Ghana" was formed to provide a forum for members to discuss and express ideas as well as concerns affecting the aviation and airline industry in Ghana.

She was addressing guests at the Airline Awards Ceremony last Friday, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra.

Mrs. Sackey said the major tool of their trade - the aircraft - was used as a weapon of destruction with tragic consequences just three months ago. This happened when airlines were already suffering form a slowdown in the world economy but more especially in the US economy where the terrorist action took place.

Civil aviation authorities and airlines worldwide have had to introduce stringent security measures aimed at making air travel more secure.

She emphasized the need to provide quality services to travellers and said they hoped the government would introduce measures to facilitate the re-emergence of domestic air travel, which would promote business and tourism travel to all the regions of Ghana.

The awards were in four categories: Best Cargo Agent, Best Airport Unit, Best Travel Agent and the Best Aviation Personnel.

Mr. Mathieu Dunod, Managing Director of ATS Movers won the Best Cargo Agent Award and AFGO won the Best Airport Unit Award. The Best Travel Agent Award went to Expert Travel and Tours and the Captain J.A. Boakye won the Best Aviation Personality Award.

Mr. Alex Seidu Sofo, Deputy Minister for Roads and Transport said Ghana has adopted the Liberalised Skies Policy, aimed at making KIA the aviation hub of the sub-region to make Ghana attractive as a tourist destination as well as facilitate trade. He announced that communication, navigation and surveillance equipment have been installed and the extension of the runway completed.