Minority in Parliament Summons Aviation Minister Over Starbow Accident

The Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Governs Kwame Agbodza has filed an urgent question in parliament to compel the Minister of Aviation to brief the House on a recent accident involving a Starbow aircraft at the Kotoka International Airport(KIA).

The plane, which was carrying some passengers to Kumasi skidded off and crashed into a fence at the KIA.

Investigations are still ongoing.

But the Minority Spokesperson on Roads and Transport, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adaklu constituency, Governs Kwame Agbodza, told Citi Business News the Minister of Aviation must brief parliament on the safety of the domestic aviation industry.

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

“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 that the government has been saying.

“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.