Goldstar Air, a wholly Ghanaian owned airline on Wednesday, 2019 Christmas Day honoured Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, the National Chief Imam with a citation, and announced that it would name one of its aircraft after him.
“We are here today to honour the Chief Imam, and to tell him that we will name one of our aircraft after him as well as bring to his notice how we will collaborate and work efficiently with the Zongo communities in the country,” Mr Eric Bannerman, Executive Chairman of the Goldstar Air said, at the Chief Imam’s palace, at Fadama, in Accra.
The naming of the aircraft after the Muslim cleric and leader puts him the naming tradition of naming its aircraft after former Presidents of Ghana.
Mr Eric Bannerman had earlier said the planned naming of the aircraft after the leaders would take the following method: 9G-AKUFO-ADDO, 9G-JOHN MAHAMA, 9G-ATTA MILLS, 9G-JOHN KUFFOUR and 9G-JERRY RAWLINGS in that order.
The management of Goldstar Air, in the citation extended its compliments to the National Chief Imam, and praised him for his “remarkable tolerance” and working together harmoniously with all the faith-based organizations in the country.
“Alhaji Dr Sharabutu, you have inspired us with your exemplary style of leadership and your management skills put you in a class all by yourself,” the citation read.
It added: “As a man who embodies peace, you have worked tirelessly to ensure that the teeming youth in the country excel in whatever career path they choose, and through your kindness, self-sacrificing and compassionate efforts, a lot more youths have secured for themselves meaningful balance in society.”
The Goldstar Executive Chairman announced that the company intends to build a state of the art and trendsetting aviation industry that would compete with the international market in terms of quality, safety, punctuality, efficiency and cost.
“Goldstar Air will have seventy per cent local content of Ghanaian food, music, movies and announcements in Ghanaian dialects, as well as exporting labour through agency on call, charter and aircraft leasing,” Mr Bannerman said.
He announced that the company would build a 250 x 250 hanger in Tamale for repairs and refurbishing of aircraft and adopt the Tamale Airport as its hub.
Also, the airline is coming up with Goldstar City project, which would be sited in Tamale, and would include; accommodation, training school for its engineers, pilots, cabin crew and other staff of the airline.
This, he envisaged would create about 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and open up business opportunities and position Northern Ghana to the rest of the world.
The Chief Iman, speaking Hausa, through an interpreter, said appreciatively, “I’m profoundly grateful, may Allah elevate your company.
Madam Dede Sika Tetteh, Commercial Director of Goldstar Air, announced that the company’s offices along the West Coast have opened in Lome, Abidjan, Banjul, Freetown, Monrovia and Dakar and Lagos.
Source: GNA