The government has said it will be granting 5th Freedom Rights to airlines operating in the country in a bid to make the Accra the aviation hub in West Africa sub-region, just as it promised to will provide all the needed support for airlines in the sector.
Fifth Freedom Rights refers to the right to carry passengers from one’s own country to a second country, and from that country onward to a third country.
According to mobile.ghanaweb.com, the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, while speaking through Alhaji Amin Abdul-Rahman, the Director for Finance and Administration of the Ministry of Transport, said: “We assure you that government, through the Ministry of Transport will offer all stakeholders the needed support including the use of 5th Freedom Rights to expand routes to and from Accra.
“In so doing, this will ensure the realization of government vision of making Accra the preferred aviation hub in the West Africa sub-region.
He made these comments when United Airlines relaunched its operations after nine years of inactivity on the Washington-Accra-Washington route.
Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Ing. Charles Kraikue, Speaking through Rev. Stephen W. Arthur, Director of Economic Regulation and Business Development of the GCAA, said: “Your return (United Airlines) is very dear to us as GCAA as we also mark our 35 years of being an autonomous regulator. We want to use the opportunity to encourage that United Airlines should come and add value and also enhance the air liberalization policy of government.
We expect that the passengers and the general public will benefit from the choices that you bring on-board and expect high customer service and customer satisfaction overall. We at GCAA, promise to provide all airlines safety and security at all times.”
