Travel leaders to discuss African airlines’ challenges at Accra Weizo

*Airlines, others nominated for awards

Governor Ben Ayade, the Minister of Tourism, Ghana’s, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and the Tourism Minister of Gambia, Benjamin Roberts are the Leading candidates nominated by the Balafon Award committee for the West African Tourism Man of the year award.

The maiden edition of the Award was won last year by the Minister of Tourism Ghana at Accra Weizo. Since the last edition the Minister has increased her tempo of marketing Ghana in all major source markets culminating in the familiarization visit by the Chinese tour operators to Ghana recently. Govenor Ben Ayade the “Digital”Governor of Cross River State delivered on his promise to internationalize the World Famous Carnival Calabar.

He had inherited a great event that the Carnival has become and he extended the spice by adding A bikers day and an international section that brought over 200 foreign revellers to the Carnival. Carnival Calabar can now properly position itself as the major event in Africa.

The Gambia is still exciting with its Tourism products as the Country continues its marketing campaigns across the world and the minister who was formerly of the Tourism board keeping a steady hand on the Job.

The Award for the best Airlines in West Africa is a straight fight between Arik, ASKY and Ghanaian carrier AWA. The CEO of ASKY, Henok Tefferra and the CEO of Nigeria’s domestic carrier Air Peace, Allen Onyema are squared off for West African Aviation personality of the year. The public voting started last week on http://www.atqnews.com/vote.html will end on July 4th and the committee will announce the results by the 5th of July.

Tourism and Travel Leaders from all over West Africa will be meeting in Accra, Ghana on the 15th of July 2016, to discuss The challenges facing Travels in West Africa. Balafon Awards will be held at the closing ceremony of the event.

Recently An informal committee meeting with the Ghana members of the Balafon West Africa Travel Awards was held in Ghana to discuss modalities for the Awards coming up at Weizo 2016.

Present at the meeting held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Accra were Collins Udolu, Ikechi Uko, Jeanne Donkoh former Hotel GM, Cephas Larbi of Daily Guide, Glory Brisbane of Stellar Travels and Abdallah Mohammed of MetroTV. Balafon is the West African Travel Awards instituted many years ago by the organisers of Akwaaba African Travel Market.

It was set up to recognize individuals who have excelled in Tourism and Travel and who also have contributed yo the growth of Tourism and Travels in the region. But this year 2016 Balafon Awards will become part of Accra Weizo event.

The West Africa Award (Balafon) will hold at 5pm, with award categories to include: West Africa Tourism Man of the Year, West Africa Aviation Man of the Year, West African Personality of the Year, and Top 5 Hotels in West Africa. Top 3 Airlines in West Africa and Best International Airlines to West Africa.

To ensure credibility and transparency in the award selection a multinational committee was set up to shortlist nominees. These nominees will be voted for by the public and winners announced before the event.

The committee includes other Members from Ghana, Nancy Sam President of Tour operators union of Ghana, Ahmed Naaman, VP GHATOF, Abeku Santana super Blogger and Ghana Tourism Ambassador, Dominic Andoh of BF&T, Kojo Bentu Williams Tourism PR wiz kid , Bridget Markwe leading Tour Operator and Andrew Boafo Ghana’s most experienced Hotel marketer.

Other members from other countries include Nkereuwem Onung President of NATOP, Ime Udo, Obinna Emelike, Franklin Ihejirika, Demola Ojo, Okorie Uguru, Omololu Olumuyiwa and Wale Olapade. After the short list by the committee the public will be allowed to vote for the winners. Balafon awards comes up on July 15, 2016 at Accra Weizo

For Accra Weizo 2016 The Chief Executive Officers of the three leading Airlines in West Africa ASKY, ARIK and AERO have confirmed participation at the event scheduled for the 15th of July in Accra Ghana.

They will be discussing the increasing challenges faced by Airlines in West Africa. West Africa has a population of over 300 Million from 15 Countries and over 40Airports. Despite having the largest Economy in Africa West Africa is very poor in Aviation matters compared to East, South and North Africa. It cannot boast of a major Aviation hub not to talk of a super airline. Every Airline comes to West Africa to fill up their balance sheet yet the Airlines in West Africa struggle to maintain profitability. Taxes and policy hurdles cripple profitable operations in West Africa. These issues will be discussed at the Aviation session of the event expected to be Chaired by the DG NCAA supported by his Ghanaian compatriot GCAA, who have all been invited to the event.

Accra Weizo is an event put together by the organizers of Akwaaba African Travel Market with the support of Ghana Ministry of Tourism Culture and Creative Arts. It debuted last year.

The 2016 edition themed: “Seamless Travels in West Africa” will host a discussion session on West Africa as a single destination.

The Guest Speaker in the Aviation session is Mr. Henock Teferra, the Managing Director of ASKY Airlines, ASKY Airlines is a pan Africa airline, based in Lome, Togo.

He will be speaking on the topic “The Challenges of Running a Successful Regional Airline in West Africa, at the Event. Other speakers at this year’s event are the Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors Limited, Captain Fola Akinkuotu and the Vice Chairman of SAHCOL Mr. Chike Ogeah.

Captain Akinkuotu who was the former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is also a pilot, as well as flight and aircraft engineer, and has vast experience in the aviation industry will be heading the team of panelists which include several top aviation experts and government functionaries as they discuss and deal with the topic.
Chief Executive Officer of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd. Mr. Ogeah is currently the Vice Chairman of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd.

Ogeah will be speaking on ‘Integrating Airport Operations in West Africa. Accra Weizo is hosted by La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, supported by Ethiopian Airlines, Accra City Hotel and Kempinski Gold City Hotel Accra. The 2nd Accra Weizo is themed: “Seamless Travel in West-Africa”. It will be an in-depth look at ways to improve Travel and Tourism growth in West Africa through easy access to towns and cities in West Africa. Improving and simplifying Airport and Border processes; Standardizing Hotel and facilities for tourism through shared vision

Wole Shadare