Government committed to boosting Tourism Potential of Ghana

Ghana: Vice President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister of Tourism, Akua Sena Dansua, to conclude arrangements with the Cable News Network (CNN) for a documentary on the tourism potential of Ghana.

The Vice President in a meeting with the Minister and a team from CNN at the Castle, Osu in Accra, mentioned the potential of the tourism sector and said if properly harnessed could move up from its current position as the country’s 3rd largest contributor to the number one spot.

According to Vice President Mahama, Ghana is making strides in the new oil industry, which needs a credible media platform like the CNN to project its potential to attract businesses and investors across the globe.

The Vice President commended the Minister for initiating the project and assured her of government’s support to develop the tourism sector to its fullest potential.

He appealed to other corporate organisations and individuals to support the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism to market Ghana at the highest platform.

The Minister of Tourism, Akua Sena Dansua explained that at a World Tourism Organisation meeting held in Korea last year, it became imminent that Ghana’s tourism sector needed a boost and therefore the CNN became handy as a bigger platform to project its image.

She explained that at another meeting held in London in November last year, the details and modalities of the discussions were laid.

Madam Dansua said the CNN team then came down to Ghana to hold stakeholders meetings with all those who matter in the tourism business and it was very fruitful.

She noted that the decision is to re-promote and re-market Ghana as the Tourism destination in West Africa in particular and Africa in general in terms of both political and economic stabilities.

Madam Dansua mentioned that with the vast experience of Vice President Mahama as a media person and public relations acumen, the project is bound to market Ghana at the highest level.

She commended the Vice President for supporting the project and pledged to work with the CNN team to ensure its success.

The Tourism Minister also appealed to corporate organisations and individuals to support the project to make the tourism sector one of the best in Africa.

The CNN team explained that Ghana will be in charge of its own destiny as it tells its own story to the world.

The team assured the government that the documentary will open the country’s doors to potential investors.

KIA Inaugurates SITA Airport Passenger Facilitation Technology

Accra-Ghana: Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has joined the league of major airports worldwide using passenger facilitation technologies from SITA.

It joins airports in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Atlanta and Toronto as well as South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Guinea who are using these SITA systems. SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology (IT) solutions.

It delivers and manages business solutions for airlines, airport, governments and other customers.

Speaking at the inauguration at KIA in Accra yesterday, Mr Sam Munda, Sales Director of SITA in-charge of Sub-Saharan Africa said management will provide the KIA with Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE), Common-Use Self Serve (CUSS) check-in kiosks, Baggage Reconciliation System and Airport Management Solutions worth 15 million dollars.

He said these technologies, which are pre-financed by SITA, will help to increase efficiency at the airport and also reduce congestion at the terminals.

The CUSS allows passengers to check themselves in before departure electronically, thus reducing congestion at the check—in desks during peak hours.

The baggage reconciliation system also tracks out-going baggage from the airport until it is loaded onto the aircraft.

“This system would solve the problem of misplaced and mishandled baggage because it ensures that the right baggage is on the right aircraft for the right person,” he added.

SITA’s suite of airport management solutions integrates with a new airport data base and Airport vision, which ensures passengers a real-time view on flight changes and a resource management system also help management of the airport to bill accurately and quickly, enhance allocation of resources (gates, check-in desks/kiosks etc) to airlines and give them an information base as well as reduce costs and create revenue for KIA.

Mr Munda said SITA will recoup its investment over a 10-year period from the airlines operating at KIA through passenger charges.

Mr Twumasi Ankrah Selby, Chief Director of Planning, Ministry of Transport, who inaugurated the equipment said the Ministry will soon present a petition to Parliament for approval to allow revenue from the Airport Passenger Service Charge (APSC) be given to GACL for the development of airport infrastructure.

Mrs Doreen Owusu-Fianko, Managing Director of GACL, expressed the hope that Parliament will allow all or a large portion of the APSC revenue for GACL.

Mrs Tosan Woode, Chairperson, Board of airline representatives and Head of Sales and Marketing, Virgin Atlantic Airways, said the airlines are pleased with the partnership with SITA to provide the technology, saying it will in addition to improving customer experience allow due diligence especially in

So far, 10 CUSS check-in kiosks have been installed and are currently being used by passengers of SKY Team airlines: Delta, Air Namibia, Ethiopian Airlines and Brussels airlines.