IMPLEMENT YAMOUSSOKRO DECISION-AVIATION MINISTER

The Minister for Aviation Joe Baidoo-Ansah has called on Council Ministers of the Western and Central Africa sub-region to speed up with the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision to catch up with the vast leaps and strides being made in the air transport industry across the globe. It must be pointed out that, the current state of the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision is uneven in member states. "While some states are endeavoring to implement it, others are not". He disclosed this at the 4th Meeting of the Council of Ministers responsible for the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision in the West and Central Africa in Accra. He said the main objectives of theYamoussokro Decision such as free tariff, fixing by the carriers, unlimited capacity and frequencies free exercise of traffic rights including the 5th freedom traffic rights and multiple designation of eligible airline among other will help open up the African continent, foster the development of intra-Africa links for free movement of people, gods and services. "It is our responsibility of overseeing to the Decision for the air transport industry with in our region" he said. Outlinig some of the problems in the air transport industry. Mr. Baidoo-Ansah said small, poor resourced airlines, generally poor infrastructure are challenges. Others problem on the two sub-regions also include high operation cost and inadequate flights connectivity unreliable and services among others." The implementation of the Decision can change some of these problems ". The Secretary of AFRAA Christian Folly-Kossi entreated member states to be responsible to ensure that African carriers are not victimized of unfair competition and also engage each region and in particular the European Union in bloc-to bloc negotiations on matters pertaining to the EU single airspace and relations with third countries. He commended ECOWAS, CEMAC and UEMOA for their good works in the air transport industry. The Yamoussoukro was adopted by African Ministers responsible for Aviation in 1999.

BY:MICHAEL AMEDOR