Mr Samuel Allotey, the Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, says processes to finalise preparations for Goldstar Air, an emerging wholly Ghanaian airline and four others, would soon be completed for the airlines to take off.

Goldstar Air is originally scheduled to begin its flight operations by June 2017, but has been confronted with few paper work challenges, which caused a delay in its take off.

However, Mr Allotey, assured the travelling and the business communities that the airlines, which are undergoing various stages of processing will take off in 2018 to bring significant improvements in the aviation industry.
Gehab Award Events organised the awards, at which it conferred on Goldstar Air, the Most Promising Airline Company of the Year. It was on the theme: “Awarding Loyalty through Service.

Mr Allotey said the arrival of the new airlines will bring competition and more options to travellers.

“So things will get better. There will be more competition in the coming months or by the end of 2019,’’ he said.

‘‘We will see a few more operators doing local, regional and intercontinental flights,” he added.

Goldstar Air, Smile Air, DAC and Montrac Air are undergoing certification; and Asamoah Gyan’s Airline has already received an air carrier license.

Starbow and Africa World Airline are currently the only two airlines operating in Ghana, but a recent accident involving Starbow, which led to its suspension, leaves the local air travelling public to depend only on Africa World Airline, a situation that could lead to some short-term challenges.

The expected commencement of operations of the new carriers in a few months time would change the face of local, regional and intercontinental travel from Ghana.

Ms Felicia Cobblah, the Head of Human Resource, received the award on behalf of Goldstar Air, presented by Nana Osafo Kantanka Adjei, the Vice President for Business Development, Government Relations and Communications of TAQA Africa.

Madam Judith Worlali, the Managing Director of Gehab Events, said the award acknowledged, appreciated and brought together outstanding professionals and organisations whose behaviour was an inspiration to others.

She commended Goldstar Air for building a reputation amongst its contemporaries and its efforts at job creation among diverse professions.
She said the decision to give the award to Goldstar Air was arrived at having carefully evaluated the business performance, which strived for the highest customer satisfaction.

The award scheme is a prestigious annual scheme, which cuts across the whole of Ghana with the aim of centralising the strength and relationship that exists between customers and organisations.

The quality service excellence awards targets the Transport, Banking, Manufacturing, Packing and Unpacking, Hospitality, Automotive and Security industries.

Goldstar Air impressive strides in corporate social responsibility, corporate vision, inspiration and pioneering innovations in Ghana are critical parts of the country’s transformation agenda toward economic growth.

Mr Eric Bannerman, the Executive Chairman of Goldstar Air, announced that the Airline would fly to 12 destinations worldwide namely; London, Dubai, Baltimore Washington, Guangzhou, Providence International Airport, Lagos, Abidjan, Monrovia, Freetown, Conakry, Banjul and Dakar.

“Our intention, as Ghanaians, is to build a state of the art and trend-setting aviation industry able to compete within the international market in terms of safety, quality, reliability, punctuality, efficiency and costs,’’ he said.

Goldstar Air would improve the Ghanaian economy through the provision of affordable and available international travel and provide job opportunities, he said.