A member of the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament, Yussif Jajah, says it is likely McDan Aviation will not operate commercially in the next two years.

According to him, the information provided by the Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority shows that McDan Aviation was only given a private jet license to operate for a period of three months only.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, Mr Jajah said that the license has also expired; leaving the company no authority to operate.

“From our meeting, what we have gathered from the Ghana Civil Aviation and Ghana Airport, I can't foresee McDan Aviation operating commercially in the next one to two years. Because as we speak now, he doesn't have the license.”

“He's still now going through the process to acquire the commercial license and it takes some time to be able to comply with the process to be able to acquire a commercial license to operate.”

His submission comes after the Ghana Airports Company Limited accused McDan Aviation of breaching the laid down procedure after procuring its license to operate in 2019.

The airport authorities said the McDan Group undertook some activities without approval.

Some of which include the commencement of the construction of the private jet terminal without a Plan of Construction Operation approval.

GACL later ordered the newly launched McDan Aviation to suspend the use of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) until further notice.

But, Mr Jajah believes the processes involved in acquiring a new license would derail commercial operation for another two years.

Meanwhile, Mr Jajah says the Roads and Transport Committee would invite the CEO of McDan Aviation, Daniel McKorley, to give an account of the circumstances leading to the suspension of his company’s operations.

He also added that the Transport Minister told the committee that “his outfit is going to sanction McDan Industries at least for defying their orders, and what have you, so a meeting would start next week to see to that.”

Background

The Ghana Airports Company Limited has accused McDan Aviation of breaching the laid down procedure after procuring its license to operate in 2019.

It raised concerns in a letter last Friday, January 28, which was the scheduled date for the McDan Group of Companies’ Private Jet Service launch at KIA Terminal 1 in Accra.

Despite a GACL directive to call off the event, the company went ahead to hold the ceremony last Friday. It was, however, boycotted by GACL leadership.

Other government officials who were absent at the outdooring of what Daniel McKorley described as a feat in the country’s aviation sector included Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.

The airport authorities said the McDan Group undertook some activities without approval.

According to the GACL Managing Director, they only became aware of this “during routine security patrols.”

“…and we had to ask you to stop and submit a PCO [Plan of Construction Operation] for review and approval before construction continued.”

Another issue was that the private jet company was “yet to fulfil its financial obligations to Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL). “

According to the 2-page letter sighted by Myjoyonline.com, “McDan owes GACL a total of $4,505,034 and ¢227,293 respectively.”

On January 31, GACL ordered the newly launched McDan Aviation to suspend the use of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) until further notice in a letter signed on January 31.

The Managing Director of the Airports Company, Yaw Kwakwa, stated "we note with concern your failure to comply with the directive despite the outstanding issues on the prior terms and conditions for the use and operations of Terminal 1 as a Private Jet Terminal.

“Management has consequently directed the suspension of your use of Terminal 1 until further notice.”

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of McDan Aviation has written to confirm their suspension of operations as instructed by the Airport Company.