Accra, 3 July, GNA - Mr. Nii Adumansa Baddoo, Acting Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority(GCAA) on Sunday called on Airlines operating in the country to see reliability, affordable fares, punctuality of operations and good customer service as their topmost priority. He said this would go a long to help the Airlines sustain operations in the country.

Mr. Baddoo said this at the inaugural ceremony to mark North American Airlines (NAA) Boeing 767 300ER direct Flight from Accra to New York. He said the commencement of NAA operations to Ghana is a clear testimony of the confidence in GCAA's ability to ensure a safe and secure environment for flight operations in accordance with the mandate given through the convention of international civil aviation.

He said, "it is worth noting that the commencement of operations to Ghana by a US Carrier, possibly the first to the West African sub region, is a demonstration of confidence in Ghana's economy.

Mr. Asamoah Boateng, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, said, " now that we have direct Fight from Accra to New York, the challenge for the Ministry is to present Ghana in good light to the rest of the world." He said, "it would now be easy for tourist in the United States who want to come to Ghana now because they do not have to hop from one continent to another."

Mr. Asamoah said: " the opportunity now presents itself to Market Ghana new slogan that is "Ghana a Goldern Experience" to the rest of the world." He said, the ministry is committed in putting in the necessary conditions to make things easy for tourists that want to visit the country. He said: " these conditions like good road networks, well-planned tourist sites are necessary so that one can at least visit all the sites in one day."

Mr. Asamoah said that tourism is a big industry in the world and Ghana must make every effort to get her fair share of it. He said even though last year tourism in the country grew by 12 per cent, it is unfortunate that the sub-region only had 2 per cent share of the world market. NAA for now flies once a week direct flight from New York to Accra on Saturdays and departs Accra on Sundays.