The GaDangme Youth Association has raised concerns over what it says are attempts to cripple the operations of McDan Aviation, owned by Ghanaian businessman, Mr Daniel Mckorley.
According to the group, a letter by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), which ordered McDan Aviation to suspend its private jet lounge operations, targeted Mr Mckorley, a Ga indigene, from carrying out the operations.
The aviation department of the McDan Group of Companies inaugurated Ghana’s first private jet terminal at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra on Friday, 28 January 2022.
But shortly afterwards, the GACL ordered the company to shut down.
“We refer to our earlier discussions and subsequent directive to suspend the inauguration of the Private Jet Terminal at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) until all the necessary operational requirements and obligations are met”, a letter signed by the Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Mr Yaw Kwakwa said.
“We note with concern, your failure to comply with the directive despite the outstanding issues on the prior terms and conditions for the use and operations of Terminal 1 as a Private Jet Terminal,” it added.
“Management has consequently directed the suspension of your use of Terminal 1 until further notice. You are kindly requested to relinquish the keys to enable Management to undertake a Joint Inventory by close of business day, Monday, 31 January 2022”.
Responding to the development, the GaDangme Youth Association believed that the actions of the GACL were “a means to sabotage the effort of an industrious GaDangme citizen who has made a significant contribution to the economy of Ghana”.
This was contained in a statement signed by the GaDangme Youth Association President, Nii Ayaafio Tetteh I.
The group expressed its “displeasure” over the decision by the GACL.
“We further reject the GACL’s decision and call on the Company to do the needful by reconsidering their position and bring back McDan Aviation into operations with immediate effect,” the release noted.
According to them, the reasons offered by the GACL over the suspension “lacks merit and has exposed the incompetence in the country’s aviation sector”.
In their view, “the suspension of McDan Aviation was aimed at preventing GaDangmes from operating in the aviation industry”.
They have resolved to resist “such an evil plot on any GaDangme citizen more so in the person of Mr Daniel Mckorley who is one of the successful men in the private sector and has also supported the GaDangme States”.
They pointed out that the Kotoka International Airport is situated on lands that belong to La, and “therefore it will be unjust to deny any industrious GaDangme citizen who has gone through the requisite procedures and therefore qualifies as an aviation expert from operating”.
There are of the opinion that it was not appropriate for the Ghana Airport Company Limited to mete out sanctions against McDan Aviation.
“The GaDangme Youth Association will like to ask the Ghana Airport Company Limited whether they were not aware of such a project at Terminal 1.
“Secondly, did the authorities ask whether or not McDan Aviation has gone through the proper procedure.
“We ask these questions because work has been ongoing at the terminal for several months, so why now?
“The assertion that the suspension was due to Mr McKorley flouting aviation rules comes to us as a surprise.
“It will be incompetent on the side of the authorities at the Ghana Airport Company Limited to claim they did not know what was happening,” the release added.
The group believed that the venture would also create job avenues for the youth.
Therefore, there are calling on authorities to restore operations of McDan Aviation, or they protest at the Jubilee House.