The Chaterred Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT-Ghana) is recommending to government to fast-track the establishment of Base Carrier and local airlines to fill the capacity in the Airport terminals.
These base carriers and local airlines, according to the President of CILT-Ghana, could help effectively utilize Terminal 2 infrastructure to help boost regional and international connectivity and trade.
Mr. Ebo Hammond, CILT-Ghana President made these remarks when he led members as well as students of the Institute on a tour of the Swissport Facilities at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Cargo Centre last Friday.
According to him, looking at the annual average of international flight traffic of 24,508, and the average international passenger throughput of 1, 34721 with its attendant average domestic passenger throughput of 14,884 and an average freight tonnage of 49,488 in the last five (5) years, there are great opportunities for growth which comes with the construction of the new terminal hence, must be effectively and aggressively explored.
He said: “Increase in the Passenger Throughput The successful completion of T3 increases the airport’s capacity for passenger throughput by about five (5) million. In addition to T1&T2, passenger throughput expands to about 6.5 million passengers which create excess capacity to fill-up in the years to come.”
Ebo Hammond also averred that with annual passenger growth rate of about 6% and cargo growth rate of about 15%, there is the need for the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) and its stakeholders to embark on aggressive marketing to attract new airlines and increase existing flight frequency of airlines to help fill the increased capacity so as to help boost trade.
“This expansion should support the country’s ambition to transform its international airport into a gateway for at least the West Africa and serve as a sub-regional aviation hub and contribute to the country’s economy by facilitating market connectivity and reducing the cost of doing business,” he said.
The CILT-Ghana President, who was impressions after tour, said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) partners of the GACL should endeavor for optimum use of the facility and if possible operate a 24 hours operation where demand requires it, and called on the management of GACL to find groundbreaking opportunities to help increase exports through such impressive cargo facilities especially non-traditional exports.
He called for collaboration between stakeholders including the Export Promotion Council, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Growers Associations and GACL to promote exports and improve the Value Chain of non-traditional exports from packaging of export produce from farms to cold rooms/storage-handling facilities at the airport.
Ebo Hammond also enumerated that Ghana can take advantage of the improved aviation facilities in the country today, to boost international tourism.
He congratulated the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and Air Ghana for an enviable Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in Logistics and Transport.
On her part, Chairperson for Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) Ghana, Dr Doreen Owusu-Fianko who was also impressed at the way logistics are handled by Swissport, indicated that Swissport has become a model logistics handler in the sub-region and expressed optimism that their work will boost trade in Ghana.
She lauded the professionalism being exhibited by staff of Swissport and said their Warehouse system is one of the best in world.
According to her through their tour of the facility, CILT-Ghana family had first hand information and feel of how the cargo handling processes are done.
She was amazed by the Cold rooms facility for pharmaceutical products, the dangerous cargos handling and the mechanised way by which the company packs products and goods that come in.
“One thing I am very much impressed with is for us to learn that their staff are well trained. That is for the company to achieve that level of excellence,” she said.
She also revealed that plans are far advanced to get Swissport and its workers become members of CILT-Ghana.
Chris Goodsir, Country Manager for Swissport took the CILT-Ghana team through the various installations at the Airport and explained each stages of logistics handling.
By: PROSPER AGBENYEGA