Kumasi, Aug. 17, GNA - The government is developing a comprehensive and sustainable policy to promote the growth and development of the aviation industry in the country.

The aim is to systematically develop infrastructure at strategic locations in order to position the country as an aviation hub in the West African sub-region.

Miss Gloria Akuffo, Minister of Aviation, who announced this, said the national Aviation Agenda, was to put in place the right structures to ensure that aviation played its role effectively to promote national development.

She was speaking at a durbar of staff of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and security officials at the Kumasi Airport in Kumasi, on Wednesday as part of her familiarisation tour of the Ashanti region. The visit was to enable the Minister acquaint herself with the facilities at the Kumasi Airport and interact with the staff to know some of the challenges facing them.

Miss Akuffo said the creation of the Aviation Ministry indicated the government's appreciation of the important role the industry could play in the economic development of the nation.

She said plans were far advanced to separate the core aviation business and the airport development and management operations to promote efficiency and also adhere to international aviation standards. The Minister said the Kumasi airport remained a priority in the development agenda of the Ministry in view of the strategic location of Kumasi in the country.

She said plans were ongoing to extend and expand the runway and install lighting system at the airport to ensure safe landing of aircraft, especially during the night.

Miss Akuffo urged the staff to remain focussed and continue to give of their best in the face of challenges that confronted them in the discharge of their duties. She also paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr

Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah and visited the proposed new Kumasi Airport site at Ankaase in the Kwabre district. Mr Kyere Konadu, Kumasi Airport Manager, said during the first half of the year, the airport realised 8,025.90 dollars in revenue from navigational charges from both scheduled and non-scheduled flights that landed and took-off at the airport.

A total of 110,740 passengers also travelled through the airport to Accra at the same period, fetching 1,107,400,000 cedis in revenue to the airlines.

Mr Konadu called for a speedy refurbishment of the airport to meet its international status.

Mr Owusu-Ansah appealed to the Ministry to expedite action on the proposed project in order to open up the area and offer employment to the people.