GCAA Develops Consumer Protection Directives For Air Passengers

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority is to finalize a consumer protection directive that would protect the interest and farewell of airline passengers.

Ghana has ratified the Montreal Convention of 1999, which deal with passenger rights and protection.

The draft passenger rights and consumer protection directive will address consumer protection issues and set out types of compensation for overbooking, denied boarding, delays and cancellation of flights among others.

Mrs. Joyce Anakwa Thompson, Director, Legal, International Relations/Communication, said the compensation will take different forms including rerouting, issues of hotels, refreshment, and phone calls among others.

She said the directive deals with passengers’ right and Airport obligations to passengers. She said some of the provisions in the directives are right to care, upgrading / downgrading persons with disability, obligation to inform passengers of their rights and misleading advertising.

Mrs. Thompson said on compensation, domestic flights will pay £100.00 payable at the Ghana cedis equivalent at a prevailing bank rates, while for Regional flights £300.00 and for International flights £600.00 should be paid.

She urged Air operation to get themselves acquainted with the new directive to be implemented adding that any breach of these direction will attract sanctions or punishments.

Director-Gen, GCAA, Simon Allotey, said there was a need for more education on the directive for operations and consumers.

He said various consumers’ initiative have been taken in other countries and it is time Ghana also join in that regard.

He said the authority was still opened receiving inputs from stakeholders in the industry to the finally come out with the directives.

Country Manager South African Airline, Mrs. Gloria Yirenkyi, said the directive seems to be looking at the consumer interest more than the Airlines.

“It seems the directive is over protective of the consumer” she added.

She said it will be in the interest of the Airlines to negotiate the compensation fee. 

SOURCE: GNA
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