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THE LIBERALIZATION EXPERIENCE:THE CASE OF GHANA
A
PRESENTATION
BY
CAPT. JOE BOACHIE,
ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL,
GHANA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY
AT THE SEMINAR ON “AVIATION IN TRANSITION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF LIBERALIZATION”
HELD AT ICAO HEADQUARTERS, MONTREAL, CANADA,
22 – 23 MARCH, 2003
OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION
2. EXPECTED BENEFITS
3. OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
4. GHANA’S EXPERIENCE
* GAINS
* IMPEDIMENTS
5. CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
• GOVERNMENT OF GHANA FORMULATES THE “VISION 2020” PROGRAMME IN 1995
• FLOWING FROM THIS PROGRAMME IS A GHANA TRADE AND INVESTMENT GATEWAY PROJECT
• STRATEGY: CREATION OF LIBERALISED ENVIRONMENT TO PROMOTE TRADE AND INVESTMENT TO ACHIEVE ACCELERATED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA
• AIR TRANSPORT LIBERALIZATION ONE OF THE KEY AREAS IN THIS RESPECT
• THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITY: TO IMPLEMENT AIR TRANSPORT HUB
EXPECTED BENEFITS
• ACCESS TO NEW MARKETS• IMPROVED EFFICIENCY OF AIR CARRIERS• ROUTES EXTENSION WITHOUT EXPLORATORY
COSTS THROUGH COMMERCIAL ARRANGEMENTS e.g. STRATEGIC ALLIANCE, CODE SHARING.
• INCREASED SAFETY AND SECURITY.• TRADE STIMULATION• INCREASED EARNINGS FROM TOURISM AND• INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
• ABSENCE OF STRONG HOME AIRLINE
• LOW GNP PER CAPITA
• SEVEN (7) YEAR TRANSITION
• AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11TH (9/11)
• CONDITIONALITIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
GHANA’S EXPERIENCE
• GAINS
GROWTH IN THE AREAS OF :
* TOURISM * NON-TRADITIONAL EXPORTS * AIR TRAFFIC MOVEMENTS * PASSENGER THROUGHPUT
HUB PROGRAMME SLOW TO ADVANCE, EVEN THOUGH IMPROVEMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATION FACILITIES
• IMPEDIMENTS:
* HIGH AIR FARES ON OUR ROUTES
* VISA RESTRICTIONS
GHANA’S EXPERIENCE (Cont.)
GHANA’S EXPERIENCE (Cont.)
• SUBSTANTIAL OWNERSHIP AND EFFECTIVE CONTROL:
* SUBSTANTIAL OWNERSHIP AND EFFECTIVE CONTROL CRITERIA HAS BEEN REVISED
* GOVERNMENT OF GHANA’S “PLACE OF REGISTRATION AND / OR PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS”
* NEW POLICY NOT READILY ACCEPTED BY BILATERAL PARTNERS
* DIFFICULTY IN ATTRACTING FOREIGN PARTNERS
* SOME BILATERAL PARTNERS PREPARED TO GRANT WAIVERS BUT THIS DISCRETIONARY PRIVILEGE NOT FULLY ACCEPTABLE
SELF HANDLING
LIBERALISATION ENCOMPASSES ALL ASPECTS OF THE AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES INCLUDING HANDLING OF GROUND CARGO AND PASSENGERS
AIRLINES EXPECT A MORE FLEXIBLE HANDLING REGIME THAT ENABLES THEM TO UNDERTAKE TO SELF HANDLE OR CONTRACT OUT TO THIRD PARTIES
SELF-HANDLING IS A RIGHT OF THE AIRLINES TO BE EXERCISED UNDER A LIBERALISED SYSTEM, SUBJECT ONLY TO SAFETY AND SECURITY CONSTRAINTS.
IN GHANA AS AT NOW, THERE IS ONLY ONE LICENSED GROUND HANDLING COMPANY.
OUR OBJECTIONS FOUNDED ON THE FACT THAT PASSENGER AND CARGO THROUGHPUT AND INFRASTRUCTURE DID NOT SUPPORT MULTIPLICITY OF HANDLERS
HOWEVER, GOVERNMENT OF GHANA HAS INITIATED STEPS TO INTRODUCE COMPETITION IN BOTH CARGO AND HANDLING ACTIVITIES AT THE AIRPORT
SELF HANDLING (Cont.)
PRICING (TARIFFS / FARES)
GHANA’S LIBERALIZATION POLICY PERMITS AIRLINES TO FIX THEIR OWN TARIFFS BASED ON MARKET CONSIDERATIONS
THIS REMOVES THE POWER OF GOVERNMENTS TO APPROVE FARES BEFORE THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED
IN VIEW OF THE ABSENCE OF COMPETITION LAWS REGULATING THE CONDUCT OF CARRIERS, GHANA HAS INTRODUCED A SINGLE DISAPPROVAL TARIFF REGIME IN ITS BILATERAL AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS
THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS IS THAT A COMPLAINT
CAN BE RECEIVED FROM ANY PERSON, THE AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITY INTERVENES FROM THE FARE BEING IMPLEMENTED
THE PARTIES WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO ENTER INTO CONSULTATIONS IN ORDER TO FIND AMICABLE SETTLEMENT
GHANA’S POSITION IS VERY OFTEN RESISTED BY THOSE NATIONS WHICH FAVOUR GREATER LIBERALIZATION AND HAVE ADOPTED DOUBLE DISAPPROVAL REGIME
THESE NATIONS ARGUE THAT TO ALLOW ONE PARTY TO INTERVENE STIFLES COMPETITION AND AMOUNTS TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL
PRICING (TARIFFS / FARES) – (Cont.)
CONCLUSION
IN CONCLUSION, WE BELIEVE THAT LIBERALIZATION IS
GOOD AND GHANA’S EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL
/ POSITIVE. RESULTS ACHIEVED SO FAR INDICATE THAT
WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BEING A
SMALL NATION, HOWEVER, THE PACE OF TRANSITION IS
NOT AS FAST AS THAT OF A DEVELOPED NATION. HENCE
OUR INSISTENCE ON CERTAIN SAFEGUARDS TO BE
INSTITUTED UNTIL WE ACHIEVE AN APPRECIABLE LEVEL
OF MATURITY.