Johannesburg, Tuesday, 29 April 2014 – As part of its ongoing focus and
expansion into emerging markets, Airports Company South Africa has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to
provide advisory and technical consultancy services on all airport-related
matters in Ghana. The historic agreement with GACL comes in the wake of
similar groundbreaking partnerships between Airports Company South Africa and
GVK for the management of Mumbai International Airport in India, and with
Invepar at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil. Our
partnership with the Ghana Airports Company Limited as captured in the MOU
commits us to work together more closely in technical, operational, commercial
and strategic business development aspects of the aviation industry with the
object to provide excellent facilitation and commercial airport services for all
stakeholders. GACL has the responsibility for planning, developing,
managing and maintaining Ghana’s airports. This includes Kotoka International
Airport in the country’s capital, Accra, three regional airports and other
airfields. Air traffic has been experiencing phenomenal growth in recent years,
with domestic traffic growing by over 30 percent per annum and international
passengers by around ten percent. The well-defined South African government strategy of driving business
co-operation across the African continent has been ably supported by the
Department of Transport in conjunction with Airports Company South Africa in
this instance. “Today’s announcement is a positive and exciting demonstration of a
well-founded belief in the depth, wealth of experience and expert skills that
Airports Company South Africa has accumulated over the twenty years of its
existence. It is equally pleasing that Ghana has recognised and acknowledged
South Africa’s pre-eminence in the development and management of world-class
airports by entering into an agreement for us to provide multi-dimensional
assistance for their aggressive airport expansion programme,” said Honourable Ms
Dipuo Peters, South Africa’s Minister of Transport. According to the
Honourable Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor, Ghana’s Minister of Transport, Ghana’s
burgeoning economy has put enormous pressure on the country’s airports,
especially that of Kotoka in Accra. The upgrade of facilities is essential and
this will include the building of a new terminal. “We did not have to
look far for a highly recommended partner to provide us with advisory services.
Showcasing Africa’s abilities through the enormously successful airports
expansion and management programme for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ was
recommendation enough for Airports Company South Africa,” explained Honourable
Mrs Dzifa Aku Attivor. The MoU between Ghana and South Africa provides a
positive example of a catalytic partnership between two diverse nations to
provide the required infrastructure to boost the continent’s growth. Bongani Maseko, CEO of Airports Company South Africa, said, “As a company, we
pride ourselves in the ability to compete in international markets through our
involvement in some of the BRICS markets and hence we will strive to ensure that
the region can provide airport facilities and services to compete with any in
the world. The focus on Africa remains critical to our business in order that
the continent earns its deserved place as a meaningful contender in the global
economy.” Mr Charles Asare, CEO of Ghana Airports Company Limited said
“This MOU opens business opportunities for co-operation in infrastructure
development, ground handling operations, retail and property management
development among others for our entrepreneurs and businessmen and women to
pursue.” For more information, please
contact: Unathi Batyashe-Fillis Manager: Communications and Brand
Management O.R. Tambo International Airport Direct: +27 (0) 11 921
6087 Cell: +27 (0) 79 882 7307 Email: unathi.batyashe-fillis@airports.co.za |