South African company to take over Ghanair for free

A Ghanaian newspaper, “The Independent” reports that “as if government has not learnt from our horrendous experience with Telekom Malaysia at Ghana Telecom, it is getting set to walk the same and even worse a path at Ghana Airways in the coming weeks.”

The deal, which involves Nationwide Airlines (Pty) Ltd. a privately owned South African airline company is set to offer Ghana Airways on very ridiculous terms to that concern in a proposed joint venture.

Preliminary investigations indicate that an announcement giving the nod to Nationwide Airlines could soon be a reality.

A letter dated June 19, 2002 from Nationwide Airlines (Pty) Ltd., Managing Director Vernon Bricknell to a certain Dr. Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of PanAvest, a company registered in South Africa with 11 Cradock Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg as its address spells out in four main points of what is to be done with Ghana Airways.

Interestingly, Nationwide has its head office at Canseria, South Africa, with branches at Johannesburg, Rosebank, Cape Town, Durban and George, all in South Africa.

“Sleuth investigation at the Ministry of Roads and Transport and Ghana Airways have revealed that one Dr. Boateng is waiting in the wings to take over as chief executive of the ‘new imaged’ Ghana Airways. Thus, the purpose of the Nationwide Airline letter to him is to ‘wet the ground’ and involve him from the beginning. The letter was also from its full text, to introduce Nationwide to the Ghana Airways Chief Executive in waiting after Dr. Boateng had approached Nationwide”.

Among the proposals Nationwide Airlines is making are the positions that “Nationwide would have the controlling share in this venture.” Ridiculously, Nationwide demands “the new venture will not be encumbered in any way by the past and current liabilities and obligations of the existing Ghana Airways”.

“Ghana Airways has debts that could be as high as the United Nations complex under construction opposite Cedi House in Accra.” Nationwide Airlines also demands that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be created and agreed upon by all parties before any actions are undertaken by all parties involved in the new venture.

The letter, which makes reference to a meeting with Dr. Boateng on June 18, 2002 and also his forthcoming trip to Ghana to meet with Roads and Transport Minister, Richard Anane (MP) states among other things that, “Nationwide Airlines would be interested in participating in the establishment of a new imaged “Ghana Airways” to provide domestic, regional and international services to and from Ghana.

Ironically, the first paragraph of the letter describes Nationwide Airlines as an “owner/operator of a current fleet of 22 jet passenger and cargo aircraft, providing domestic and regional scheduled services within Southern Africa. We have also recently been designated to operate long haul services between Johannesburg and London (LHR), Munich and Brussels”.

An aviation expert we contacted queried why a company that admits to operating only scheduled flights within Southern Africa should be entertained to take over Ghana Airways. “Ghana Airways has been flying to Johannesburg, London, Dusseldorf, Rome, New York, Baltimore and other European routes even in its sad state, so what has a company that admits to operating only within South Africa itself and other Southern African destinations and now claims to be recently designated to fly some of these European routes be entertained at Ghana Airways,” the aviation expert queried.

“The Independent also found out that a respected airline like South African Airways which made a joint venture proposal with Ghana Airways was rebuffed. “Why should the South African Airways offer be spurned for this ridiculous one by a small entity?”

Snap checks on Nationwide Airlines show that out of its so-called fleet of 22 aircraft, 11 are currently out of use.

Further investigations at Ghana Airways show that Roads and Transport Minister, Dr. Anane favours Nationwide Airlines’ proposals over those of Triaton and T&E, two companies that had earlier put in bids for Ghana Airways.

Christian Businessman, Kwabena Darko is linked to Triaton whilst shipping magnate Alhaji Asuma Banda is linked to the T& E bid. Triaton is Switzerland based whilst T&E is Lebanon based.

Whilst Nationwide Airlines seeks to distance itself from the mountainous debts of Ghana Airways, Triaton’s proposal is very clear on the fact that it is “prepared to help in finding a lasting solution for the financial problems of the company through negotiations with existing creditors and by arranging for injections of additional capital though bank loans or equity”.
This can be contrasted if Nationwide Airline which seeks to distance itself from Ghana Airways’ existing debts and liabilities.
The Triaton proposal, which was stamped, received at the office of the senior minister and economic management team on March 18, 2002 sets out a three-stage solution to immediately improve operations, restore customer confidence and profitability of Ghana Airways.