Dannex, a pharmaceutical company,has donated assorted energy-giving drugs, blood tonic and spectacles valued at over 5.5 million cedis in support of the aged in the Kumasi metropolis.

The donation was made through the 'Sky-B' Charity, a non- governmental organisation affiliated to HelpAge Ghana.

Making the presentation, Mr A. K. Blankson, Commercial Manager of Dannex, said the items were their contribution towards the national goal of health for all by the year 2,000.

Nana Kofi Gyemfi the second, an 85-year-old Second World War veteran, who is a patron of Charity, received the items on behalf of the aged.

He thanked the company for its assistance and hoped others will emulate them and contribute towards efforts at caring for the health needs of the aged.

Earlier, Mr S. A. Sarkodie, President of the Charity, said their main focus is the promotion of the welfare and dignity of older persons in the society.

He said in line with this, they are actively engaged in the promotion of food aid, mobile health aid services and free medical supplies for the aged both in the urban and rural communities.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 17 Feb.

British Airways (BA) has built a New World Cargo Centre at the Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom estimated at 250 million pounds.

The centre, which is the largest single investment made by the airline is the most technologically advanced air cargo facility in the world and can take 800,000 tonnes per annum, Mr Stuart Preston, British Airways Cargo Manager, Africa, said at a Press briefing in Accra yesterday.

The New World Cargo Centre has the Barcode trade which helps the airline trace where customers' goods are at every stage.

He said that by the end of the year all customers will be connected to the BA network to help trace their goods. "About 80 per cent of the airline's uplifts are perishables but we have the perishable facility to our advantage".

Mr Charles Oliver, deputy Manager, British Airways Visitors Services (BAVS), London, said the Africa Visitors team meets passengers, who have language difficulty on arrival and helps them through immigration formalities. The service is free.

Mr Charles Forsyth, Manager, BA Ghana and Francophone West Africa, said the airline flies about 40 million passengers to and from 255 destinations, including Ghana every year.

He said BA is to organise a POLO match in Accra and proceeds will go to the school for the Deaf at Mampong Akwapim in the Eastern Region.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 17 Feb.  

Ghana Airways yesterday described its operations during last year as "record breaking" and said it plans to fly to Dubai and Toronto by the end of June as part of its strategies and targets for this year.

A statement issued in Accra by the Airline said plans are far advanced to fly to Atlanta, Las Palmas, Douala and Luanda and further announcements would be made in due course.

"Ghana Airways is poised to effect strategies and policies to maximise shareholder value. This is management's objective in the run up to privatisation."

The statement said the airline has plans to develop a vibrant cargo business and a general improvement in its overall customer care.

"The formation of strategic alliances will play a major part in ensuring the airline expands satisfactorily and efficiently. The strategic alliances will also facilitate the creation of a hub in Accra as well as improve the airline's punctuality and reliability record."

The statement said an exercise code-named "Operation Alpha-Zulu", which was launched as a pilot scheme to solve problems experienced by passengers during peak periods would be institutionalised to smoothen the airline's operations.

The areas are customer care, back-up for scheduled flights to ensure higher reliability, punctuality and efficient baggage handling at all airports.The Airline has maintained a steady increase in passengers since 1993 when it carried 153,000 passengers to last year when there were 271,000 passengers. This year, it is targeting 295,000 passengers.

"The Airline achieved a quantum increase in passenger numbers between1997 and 1998. This was a direct result of strategies being adopted by Management to develop Accra into a hub," the statement said.

Ghana Airways carried 182,000 passengers in 1994, 188,000 in 1995, 197,000 in 1996 and 193,000 in 1997. It attributed the slight drop in that year to the suspension of its West Coast operations when it lost its West Coast planein a minor accident in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. A survey conducted over the period immediately before and after the last Christmas season indicated that passengers on Ghanair flights were more satisfied with arrangements connected with their travel than at previous peaks.

"Delays and flight cancellations were rare because of short notice arrangements purposely made to ensure customer satisfaction.

"Complaints and claims for lost, missing or delayed baggage were considerably lessened because of extra efforts by the dedicated staff, additional cargo flights and improved security arrangements."

The statement said these successes were achieved to a large measure by the concern of management and staff that ensured customer friendly operations during the Christmas peak period.