THREE Ghanaian domestic airlines have barred a physically-challenged Nigerian Ndifreke Andrew-Essien from travelling because they do not have the facilities to accommodate her wheelchair.  

In a terrible indictment of the Ghanaian aviation industry, all three carriers refused to transport Ms Andrew-Essien from Accra to Tamale. A fellow of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Ms Andrew-Essien was also refused a refund by one of the airlines who rejected her. 

All the three airlines Africa World Airlines, Antrak Air and Starbow Airlines told the Nigerian, who uses a wheelchair that she could not board the plane from Accra to Tamale because of her condition. After being rebuffed, she was forced to make the journey by road which took about 13 hours. 

Ms Andrew-Essien said: “I live in Port Harcourt where I run a non-profit organisation. I secured an internship with an organisation in Ghana and I was posted to Salaga which is in the Northern Province of Ghana and the route via air, is Port Harcourt to Lagos, Lagos to Accra and Accra to Tamale. 

"My flights were booked by an agent but on getting to the domestic airport in Accra, I presented my ticket to the airline Africa World Airline, where my reservations had been made for the Accra-Tamale stretch but was called aside by the airline official who told me I would not be able to fly with the airline. He stated that the airline does not fly with wheelchair-bound passengers because they don’t have facilities for such a purpose." 

All her entreaties to the airline were rebuffed and Ms Andrew-Essien said she was calling on Africa World Airlines and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority to reverse the discriminatory policy that prevents people living with disabilities from travelling. She also called on them to provide necessary equipment to travel with them. 

“I do not intend to let this discriminatory policy stop me from achieving my aim. Persons with disabilities are faced with all kinds of issues when it comes to inclusion and this is a clear example of how, in the 21st century, Africa is still not forward-thinking in building a continent for all its citizens," Ms Andrew-Essien added.