Don’t rush into making appointments at Ghana Airport –Govt cautioned

The Vice-President of policy think tank, IMANI Ghana, Mr Kofi Bentil has cautioned government against constituting a new board of directors immediately to manage the affairs of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL).

He says government should not rush in making any appointments; rather, it should take time and ensure that the problems facing the GACL were resolved.

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday ordered the dissolution of the board following the sack of the Managing Director, Mrs Doreen Owusu Fianko by the interim board chaired by Mr Kuntu Blankson.

A statement from the presidency said a list of names for a reconstituted board and management of the company was currently before the Council of State as required by law and would be announced shortly.

However, speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, Mr Bentil advised that instead of making any appointments now, government should go back to the drawing table and design a long term policy which would enable it manage and control the affairs of the GACL.

“Frankly, I would say that don’t even rush to reappointing a board. Take time and do things right. What checks have gone on over the list that has been submitted?”

Mr Bentil further challenged the president to take charge of the operations of the GACL and if possible re-call Mrs Fianko as Managing Director of the company.

“If he does not agree with what has been done, the board is his board. There are many ways; he can take steps to have it rectified. Let’s fix that airport situation well. If you believe in Aunty Doreen, then you can call her back and find a way to do that right,” he said.

He further advised government to take steps to ensure that such a situation did not repeat itself.

In the long term, Mr Bentil advised government to float its shares in the GACL and “if  possible hold like 30 per cent or so, so it has some controlling shares and allow someone to make the decision of who becomes chief executive because if they mess up they lose their money”.

By Jasmine Arku/graphic.com.gh/Ghana