The Minister of Aviation, Cecelia Dapaah on Thursday (18^th December, 2018) issued a strong warning to British Airways over substandard services.

She added that government will take drastic action against the airline if it continues to provide substandard treatment to passengers flying its routes to Ghana.

The warning follows an incident that occurred on a bedbug-infested British Airways plane, bound for the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) from Heathrow.

The cabin crew of the aircraft after seeing the bedbugs few minutes before takeoff protested, and subsequently walked off, leading to a delay in the flight.

In an interview with Citi Business News, the Head of Programs and Research at the Consumer Protection Agency, Nana Peprah said Ghanaians must report such treatment to the right authorities to be dealt with.

“The Minister did very well and the President himself also made the same complaint to the airline when they decided to move us from terminal three to terminal five. So I support this call from the minister seriously.”

“Ghanaians who face such treatment must always report such especially to the CPA or any other agency when they believe services that they are entitled to do not meet their standard. If we all do that and if we are all able to do that then definitely they will change towards us” he urged.

He went on to narrate instances where Ghana had been treated unfairly.

“It is not just the British Airways. We also had another problem with KLM when we were told that “Ghana must go” bags should not be allowed on their airlines. So if you are telling me I am not supposed to bring onboard something that I do from my home country onto your airline then definitely you don’t want me on your flight and that’s the way it is” he added.

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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Consumer agency lauds Minister’s action on British Airways appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Obeng-Adiyiah said the Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Dapaah, must “look at measures and incentives to promote the purchase of travel insurance for every Ghanaian travelling abroad”.

He said “This will reduce the incidence of distress calls and unbudgeted costs to Ghanaian travelers and their families, and also ensure the welfare and safety of Ghanaians when they are off the shores of the motherland.”

He made the remarks at the launch of the company’s new insurance product, the ‘Unique Travel Policy’.

The product, which is the first real-time online insurance product for travelers in Ghana, covers the main aspects of travel prone to unfortunate incidents and travel mishaps.

Despite the growing uptake of insurance policies in Ghana, it has been observed that travel insurance remains one of the least patronized.

In the view of Mr. Obeng Adiyiah, the Aviation Ministry, through deliberate policy directives can help address the problem.

The insurance travel policy product was launched in partnership with Trust Re of Bahrain, which will serve as the international re-insurance partner.

In attendance were dignitaries such as the Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Dapaah; her deputy, Kobby Okyere Darko Mensah, and the Commissioner of Insurance, Justice Yaw Ofori.

The Managing Director in charge of Operations at UIC, Bernard Ohemeng-Baah, said “there are several travel insurance options on the market. What we are launching is an online travel policy. It’s the first in the Ghanaian market. It’s supposed to make the acquisition and the benefit of re-insurance real-time. … If I buy today on the portal, Unique Insurance in Ghana sees it. … We know at Unique Insurance that you’ve brought a policy and that you’re entitled to benefit. All our assisting partners… wherever you are going in the world, in real-time, they know that Mr. A or Madam B has bought a policy and is entitled to these benefits, so that if you have any problem, you call and get your benefits.”

The Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Dapaah, in her keynote address, encouraged Ghanaians to patronize travel insurance saying, “Being online and cloud-based, it also allows real-time transmission of the details of every purchaser to the international travel assistance partners. Therefore, a Ghanaian traveler is guaranteed prompt assistance on insured events outside of Ghana with Unique Insurance on the Unique Travel Policy. … This is certainly a commendable development within the aviation and insurance industry in Ghana, and I encourage all present to patronize the product.”

Describing the collaboration between UIC and Trust Re as “very welcome and commendable”, the Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission, Justice Yaw Ofori also lauded the initiative.

“Fostering innovation within the industry for the benefit of policyholders is key on the Commission’s agenda. It is in this light that the launch of an online international travel insurance product, which is simple to purchase and also eases the process of accessing benefits, comes as an exciting development.”

“The fact that Trust Re, the lead re-insurer of the Unique Travel Policy, has paid-up capital of US$250 million is an important signal. This gives comfort to the National Insurance Commission that purchasers of the Unique Travel Policy can be compensated adequately, and quickly when insured events occur” Mr. Ofori said.

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By: Akosua Ofewaa Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Unique Insurance launches air travel insurance product appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The plane, which was carrying some passengers to Kumasi skidded off the runway and crashed into a fence at the KIA. Investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8gkxY4PylbQWamUQneHuzsPcpQZojrC1″]But Kwame Agbodza, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Adaklu constituency, told Citi Business News that the Minister of Aviation must brief parliament on the state of the domestic aviation industry.

He stated that it is important for the minister to assure Ghanaians of the safety of domestic airlines.

“I have filed a question in parliament for the minister to brief us on the cause of the accident and to reassure the nation that our air space is still safe. Don’t forget we have a relatively safe record in terms of the aviation industry,” he said.

Touching on a recent action taken by Starbow to dismiss some workers, Mr. Agbodza was of the view that, it is important for the company to undertake the exercise within the confines of the  labour laws, so it does not infringe on the rights of the workers.

“The recent problems with laying off of people. Starbow is a privately owned business, they can do whatever is just with their business, provided it is within the ambient of the law”.

The MP, however, raised concerns over challenges that have hit the domestic aviation industry, pointing out that, it is a setback to all the government’s assurances about the sector.

“I don’t want to believe that an industry that we are told is growing because of government intervention, and that things are getting better, all of a sudden we are seeing people being laid off”.

He stated that it is important for the minister to address the issues since the move taken by Starbow will leave the workers worse off.

“Some of the workers are complaining of a possible breach of their right. It is a serious matter. I will ask Starbow to look closely at the kind of agreement they have with their staff so that they don’t do anything unfair to them,” he advised.

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By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Minority want Aviation Minister summoned over Starbow accident appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.