Government has cleared the air about what it intends to do with the national carrier, Ghana Airways. During his sessional address this morning, President Kufuor announced that government has no intentions of liquidating or selling the embattled airline.

Ghana Airways, the President said has been "bedevilled with over-age fleets, over employment, corrupt practices and insolvency. The airline is all but dead.

But the President said there were good reasons why the country was still holding on to the airline. He said: "It is only the prospects of the profitability of its routes and the resolve of the nation not to let it go, that are keeping it alive."

The President said government has done a lot to engage serious partnerships that will come with restructuring of management and technical services, and the replacement of the over-aged fleets to resurrect the line.

"The cost of these efforts is daunting, but government, guided by a vision which is practical and attainable, is determined to help rehabilitate the airline one way or the other even if as a joint venture company flyinng the national flag."

Helping the airline rise again according to Presidnt Kuffour would help Ghana play a key role in the aviation industry in the sub region. "Government is convinced that to realise the nation's ambition of becoming the aviation hub of the sub region, it is neccesary that a carrier with a national flag be in place."