Miss Gloria Akuffo, the Minister for Aviation has revealed that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has embarked on the rehabilitation and expansion of its infrastructure.

"When the restructuring exercise is completed the management and operations of the airports will then be opened up to private sector participation through concessioning and contract management in line with international trends and practices.",she said.

She stated this when she opened the new office premises of Virgin Nigeria Airways in Accra, which is located in the same building with British Airways and Woolworths near Shangri La Hotel.

Miss Akuffo congratulated the airline on its first anniversary since it started operating in Accra,Ghana.

The minister said air transportation has been accepted as a key catalyst for national economic development serving as a link among states.

Miss Akuffo stated that the vision for her ministry is to make Ghana an aviation hub and gateway to the West Africa sub-region. Again, she said, it's the mission of the ministry to promote a competitive, efficient and cost-effective sector, whilst ensuring safety and security standards as well as orderly growth of air transport to support social and economic development, thus minimizing the negative impact of air transport operations on the environment.

She stated that Aviation Sector contribution in supporting Government's policy of poverty alleviation and wealth creation (GRPS II) hinges on policies that focus on expansion and upgrading of infrastructure.

Again (GRPS), hinges on institutional strengthening and creation of an appropriate regulatory framework that will improve accessibility, reduce cost of air transportation, attract airlines to Ghana and facilitate the development of Accra into a West African hub and gateway that will lead to growth in export trade and tourism.

She stated "The opening of these permanent offices of Virgin Nigeria Airways, demonstrably, is a reflection of the friendly business atmosphere that government has created through the implementation of this policy."

With such liberalized regime, she said, the government expects that well established airlines such as Virgin Nigeria will share their experiences by i cooperating with other carriers in developing Intra-African as well as inter continental routes so that the Yamoussoukro Decision and the Banjul Accord Group as well as other groupings in the industry will be given true meaning to their aims and objectives.

Miss Akuffo stated that the GCAA has raised its security alertness and assured all airlines operating in the country, that GCAA has put in adequate investment to continuously upgrade safety and security within the airport.

She appealed to all airlines to "give their maximum cooperation in this endeavour to that together we can break the cycle of unairworthiness arising out of accidents and incidents on our continent so that we can avoid blacklisting of our carriers currently going on in other territories."

"The ministry's doors are always open and those of us who work there are ready, eager and willing to help solve some, even if not all these challengers as government continues to pursue programmes that will create the necessary conducive environment for the industry to thrive.", she added.

Jilly Holley, Country Manager of Virgin Nigeria Airways promised Ghanaians that the airline is here to stay and promised that it will go further to increase its routes. "We will be flying to New York very soon.", she added.

She stated that Ghana has been one of the fastest growing places in the business.

Virgin Nigeria commenced international operation on June 28 2005 with the launch of thrice weekly flights from MMIA to London Heathrow.

Currently the airline flies to and from Abuja, Port Harcort and Kano on the domestic routes .

The airline flies to Accra,Ghana; Douala Cameroon and Dakar , Senegal on the regional routes, flies to London Gatwick daily;and to Johannesburg, South Africa and Dubai thrice weekly.