Business News of Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Source: GNA

Goldstar Airline to airlift over 500 disabled to Brazil

Goldstar Airline is to collaborate with Seasons Travel and Tours to airlift disabled supporters to cheer up Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, in next month’s World Cup tournament in Brazil.

According to Mr Eric Bannerman, Chief Executive Officer of Seasons Travel and Tours, the proposed 500 disabled persons would be airlifted free-of-charge to Brazil to watch the soccer fiesta.

Mr Bannerman, who is also the founder and president of the National Disabled Supporters Union (NDSU) told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the NDSU plans to select 50 persons with all forms of disability from each of the 10 regions to make the number to provide a massive support for the Black Stars during the World Cup, as well as other sporting events.

He regretted that there has been a deliberate attempt to sideline people with disabilities from participating in international events, hence the need to provide persons with disabilities the support to be present at such international tournaments.

Mr Bannerman recalled that the Seasons Travel and Tours provided similar support to the disabled during the last African Cup of Nation Tournament in South Africa.

Persons with disabilities are always sidelined when it comes to mobilization of supporters to international competitions, and I think it is discriminatory.

We want to offer them the opportunity to be part of history this time. That is why we have decided to form the group to serve as a platform for mobilizing supporters to the World Cup, he stated.

According to the President and CEO, Goldstar Airline with origins from the United States of America, is set to commence operations next June 13, flying Accra London Accra two times weekly and Accra-Baltimore-Accra two times weekly.

The airline would also do Accra-Guangzhou-Accra once a week as its local partner Seasons Travel and Tours International offers free visas to all people traveling on the airline to Brazil for the 2014 world cup journey.

Mr Bannernman said the airline is also poised to take its share in the upcoming world cup in Brazil, and has positioned itself to make the most of the opportunities that the world cup in Brazil will bring.

He assured the traveling public that the airline is very safe and will ensure absolute security of all passengers.