Haggling over GCCA ground handling bid over

Workers of Aviance Ghana Limited an under-wing and cargo handling business at the Kotoka International Airport are now breathing a sigh of relief as their company’s license to operate has been extended to seven years.However, Aviance is yet to receive a certificate to this effect, but the jobs of about 500 of workers are now intact as Public Agenda’s consistent probing on the delay in releasing of the results of the bid for a second ground-handling operator, by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority; (GCAA) finally paid off.The papers continuous reports facilitated a reaction from the Public Procurement Board, (PBB) which stated its intension to investigate the bid process. On May 8, 2006, the GCAA put out an advertisement inviting tenders for the provision of a second ground handling operator license and warehouse management services. Aviance, alongside five recognized handling companies submitted its bid to the GCAA by the end of June 2006.Last year when the bidding process began, workers of Aviance expressed fears that their jobs could be at stake as they accused the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, (GCAA) of not offering them a fair chance to bid for contract to continue operating at Kotoka International Airport, (KIA). They questioned why a partner offering the same terminal services as Aviance was given preference to be the first operator, while Aviance that has been in the business for twelve years is not recognized.“We welcome efforts to bring in a competitor. But then there must be fairness and no politicization. We are all Ghanaians and should be treated as such. We are suffering and should be attended to as we have dependants.” They continued, “Our records from AFGO to Aviance show we have the capability to provide whatever service that is needed.” The workers on several occasions expressed concern over the delay in the release of results. Even though information that reached this paper attributed the delay to a temporal technical hiccup, the workers felt there was more to it and were in the process of constituting a team to meet the President over the issue. When this paper contacted the GCAA to inquire about the delay it stated that once an announcement was yet to be made, it should be taken that it was still at the tendering process. A document that was made available to Public Agenda suggested that the bidding process had been compromised in favour of Aviance. It stated that the process was also flawed since there was ample proof that the auditors of Aviance were on the panel that did the evaluation and scoring for the granting of a license to an operator. However, another document this paper obtained confirmed that the selection of members of the tender board was made by the GCAA and that following the objection to the presence of the auditors, the tender board was restructured and the tenders re-evaluated. It added that the PPB ratified the tender process. Aviance Ghana Limited is a Ghanaian registered limited liability company founded in 1990 when the GCAA embarked on a project to improve the general infrastructure at the KIA. Aviance, formerly AFGO limited began operations in 1993 as the sole provider of ground handling services at the KIA and manager of the cargo facility. As at December 31, 2005, since it commenced its operations it has paid to the GCAA on account of $5.850 million rent and $10.270 million royalty. Within the space of 11 years, Aviance is said to have committed over $7 million to equipment and improvements to demonstrate its commitment to the aspirations of the airport authority.