Mr Felix Owusu-Agyapong, Minister of Transport and Communication, said government is to establish an efficient and integrated transportation network for the movement of people and goods at a minimal cost within the country and internationally.

The minister said transportation is vital to the socio-economic development of a nation as it is closely linked to economic growth.

Mr Owusu-Agyapong said this at the flag-raising ceremony and photo exhibition as part of the 15th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) at the airport.

He said the main objective of the government's liberalised civil aviation policy is to provide greater access to and from the country for people and goods.

"For example air transportation supports tourism, which although a young industry in the country, already runs as the third highest foreign exchange earner.

"Returns from the industry for the year 2000 alone were 300 million dollars." Mr Owusu-Agyapong said his ministry is glad to observe that the GCAA has over the past 15 years been actively contributing to the economy and that the development at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is an ample testimony.

"Through this project, as well as good management practices, the GCAA attracts more airlines, passengers and cargo to Ghana thereby helping to improve the national economy."

The minister said the government, as the sole shareholder in the GCAA, expects that the more successful it becomes, the greater it will contribute to the national coffers through the payment of higher dividends.

Mr Owusu-Agyapong said government is so far satisfied with GCAA's role as a very vital component in the engine of national development and is prepared to assist it in any way possible.

The minister said in pursuance of its assigned role, the GCAA will have to help resolve the problems created by the apparent monopoly of services enjoyed by African Ground Operations (AFGO) Limited at the airport.

He said a section of the community has not been happy with the operation of AFGO and has submitted papers to government, which are being studied.

Captain Joe Boachie, Acting Director-General of the GCAA, gave a detailed history of the development of civil aviation in Ghana from 1918.

He said the attainment of corporate status by the GCAA in 1986 marks the beginning of an upturn in her performance especially in the area of operation and finance.

He said within a short period, aircraft movement grew from 6,385 in 1995 to 10,414 last year, and that a growth rate of 17.6 per cent is expected for the period 2001 to 2005.

"Passengers arriving at and departing from the KIA grew from 368,202 in 1995 to 592,276 in 2000 representing a growth of 10 per cent and projected to increase to 17.5 per cent between now and 2005."

Captain Boachie said similarly freight to and from KIA also grew from 37,817 tonnes in 1995 to 46,826 tonnes last year representing a growth of 5.5 per cent making KIA the top cargo airport in West Africa.

"The GCAA did not forget its responsibility to the Central government and since 1993 has paid annual dividends to the government while at the same time bearing the heavy responsibility of upgrading and developing facilities in a highly capital intensive industry."

Captain Boachie said the authority is in the process of restructuring to enable it to focus on its core responsibility of regulating the Ghana civil aviation industry and facilitating air navigation. It will opt out from airport management for private management.

This, he said, is the modern trend in the civil aviation world, adding, "it is sad to say that Ghana lags behind neighbouring states like Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire in this regard."