Accra, July 29, GNA - The Board of Directors of Ghana International Airlines Limited (GIAL) has after a review of operations of the company and its financial standing, decided to retrench 140 workers while the management discussed with the Union their continued employment.

A statement issued by the Board in Accra and signed by Albert Botchway, Board Chairman explained that a small number of staff necessary to keep the company running would be maintained, especially as it sought the assistance of government to repatriate and also refund payments to almost 9,000 GIAL ticket holders.

It said GIAL had since its inception been unable to sustain its operations and continued to grapple with numerous operational challenges.

The decision of the Board, it explained, was to avoid the present situation where workers were facing numerous challenges including delay in salary payments.

The Board said GIAL currently did not need the 160 personnel on its payroll because the company was not fully operational and could not pay the staff.

The statement thanked the staff for their patience, explaining that the Board was working out all the necessary processes including notifying the Chief Labour Officer and engaging with the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) on the welfare of the staff.