GACL’s letter to McDan: Causing ‘confusion’?

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) is reported to have ‘shut down’ the operations of the McDan private jet terminal at the Kotoka International Airport.

This was barely five days after McDan Aviation Company opened the private jet terminal at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra, on January 28,   2022.

McDan Aviation is reported to have defied the orders of GACL to halt the inauguration of the new private jet terminal on January 28,   2022.

Reportedly, the Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group of Companies, Mr Daniel McKorley, has confirmed the shutdown of operations of his private jet terminal, assuring that McDan Aviation will ‘engage’ GACL in the ensuing impasse.

The GACL accuses McDan of inaugurating his private jet terminal without following its orders of postponement.

GACL’s letter to McDan Aviation, signed by its Managing Director, Mr Yaw Kwakwa, ordered postponement of the inauguration of the private jet terminal because the arrangements made for the inauguration had not been approved by GACL , insisting that the event posed some safety and security concerns at the Kotoka International Airport.

GACL says, it made efforts to meet McDan Aviation so as to discuss matters regarding the opening of the private jet terminal but no official from McDan Aviation turned up for the proposed meetings.

GACL’s letter to McDan Aviation said: “One major example relates to your commencement of construction of the private jet terminal without a plan of Construction Operation approval from GACL.”

The letter further said: “We only became aware of your construction activities during our routine security patrols, and we had to ask you to stop and submit a Plan of Construction Operation for review and approval before construction continued.”

GACL’s letter again revealed that: “McDan Aviation through its actions disregarded the norms of doing business in the aviation sector, which requires strict adherence to safety and security concerns.”

The letter to McDan Aviation was copied to the Transport Minister, the Minister of National Security, the National Security Coordinator and the Director, Aviation Security.

The letter said:”GACL is unable to support the inaugural event until we iron out all the necessary issues and you prove to us that you fully understand and appreciate how things are supposed to be done in the aviation sector, in the interest of safety and security.”

A security analyst after examining GACL’s letter to McDan, however, asks: “So does it imply that the GACL has no technology to detect any ‘illicit’ construction activity which falls within the boundaries of the Kotoka International Airport?

“And that until ‘routine security patrols’ are undertaken by the Aviation Security, even terrorists or mercenaries can construct ‘properties’, including tunnels within the boundaries of the Kotoka International Airport? In this age of computer technology and digitisation?”

The security analyst adds:”The GACL’s letter signed by its Managing Director and addressed  to McDan Aviation, exposes a serious security threat at the Kotoka International Airport,” stressing that,  “this security threat must be urgently addressed.”

A retired public servant also examines GACL’s letter to McDan and queries: “So, in effect, McDan defied the orders of GACL and continued the construction of the private jet terminal until the completion and inauguration of the project?

“And like what the District Assemblies incompetently do; the GACL authorities were also looking on ‘sheepishly’  until the ‘illegal project’ was executed, completed and launched ?

“What is the mandate of GACL in the development of airports in the country?

“Is the current management of GACL too weak to have sanctioned McDan Aviation right from the outset of the project or the management was just afraid of the company?

“May I also ask: Were some politicians hiding behind McDan to do what he did ?”

McKweku Ayoo, a level 400 Business Student of the University of Cape Coast has also expressed surprise about GACL’s letter to McDan.

He quiries: “Did GACL management seek advice from its Board of Directors when McDan flouted its orders to ‘stop work’ and continued his construction activities at the Kotoka International Airport?

“If the GACL management sought advice from its Board of Directors, what was the nature of the advice?

“To allow McDan to complete and inaugurate the private jet terminal, before ‘crying out’ to the nation?

“What was also the principle of ‘state-corporate’ collaboration among key stakeholders, including Ministry of Transport, Ministry of National Security and State-Interest Governance Authority?

“Did the key stakeholders just stand-by , observing the ‘fight’  or ‘quarrel’  between GACL and McDan Aviation, without any ‘productive’ intervention ? And in whose interest? “

Ataa-Nii, a well-educated Accra taxi-driver also says:”McDan and his company must also talk so that we hear their side of the whole story.

“They must also issue a press release to the public, otherwise, from the tone of the GACL’s letter, the impression is created that McDan and his company are bullies, arrogant and disrespectful to the laws of the Republic of Ghana.”

Readers, much as this column shares the sentiments expressed by Ataa-Nii, we equally urge the Government to quickly intervene to resolve the impasse between GACL and McDan , since the project ‘in dispute’ can support Ghana in so many ways ; if it is properly guided ‘to thread’ the ‘appropriate channels’ to take-off.

Contact email/ WhatsApp of author:

asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)

BY G. FRANK ASAMAH