The available talent pool amongst Ghana's younger generations is very, very impressive - and definitely world-class.
Over the years, I have been lucky to have come across and interacted with quite a number of exceptional young Ghanaians - whose
achievements despite their relatively young ages are extraordinary by all standards.
Such talented and exceptionally-gifted younger generation Ghanaians give one great hope in our nation's future - despite the many challenges we face as a people today.
Doubtless, in time, our country's younger generations' boundless energies and their big-horizon-dreams will help transform our homeland Ghana into one of the world's wealthiest nations, to the surprise of many. No question.
That is why when President Akufo-Addo revealed to the nation - in his speech to mark the opening of the first African Air Show at Accra's international airport - that Asamoah Gyan, the captain of the senior male national soccer team, the Black Stars, had applied for an airline license, I was so overjoyed.
It so happens that the irrepressible Asamoah Gyan has what it takes (in terms of his sunny outlook on life and true-grit nature) to become Africa's equivalent of the UK 's Sir Richard Branson of Virgin
Airlines fame.
One's humble advice to Asamoah Gyan is to travel to Norway as soon as practicable to meet with the founder of Norwegian Air Shuttle, Bjørn Kjos, to discuss the possibility of setting up a low-cost airline for the continent - Pan African Air Shutle - which will introduce truly affordable air travel between African cities and destinations outside
the continent of Africa.
Today's generation of young, educated Africans need a low-cost airline on whose well-maintained fleet of the most modern jet planes they will
always feel welcomed in, and respected by the airline's cosmopolitan cabin crews - wherever in Africa they board those planes and regardless of the final destinations they happen to be headed for in
all the other four of the planet Earth's five continents.
To inspire Asamoah Gyan and the professional advisors he relies on, today, we have culled and posted a New York Times article by Jonah
Engel Bromwich, entitled, "N.A.A.C.P. Advisory on American Airlines Warns Black Travelers to Steer Clear".
The article highlights concerns of the leadership of one of the oldest civil rights organisations in the U.S., the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), over the racism shown towards African American travellers by American Airlines' cabin crews. Clearly, the world could do with an airline with a global footprint in whose planes passengers would always be welcome
regardless of their hue.
Please read on:
"The New York Times
Travel
Trending...
N.A.A.C.P. Advisory on American Airlines Warns Black Travelers to Steer Clear
By JONAH ENGEL BROMWICHOCT. 25, 2017
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The N.A.A.C.P. named four different episodes in which black passengers
were said to have been discriminated against by American Airlines.
Credit Daniel Slim/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
The N.A.A.C.P. on Tuesday warned African-Americans to exercise caution
when traveling on American Airlines, citing a pattern of
“disrespectful” and “discriminatory” behavior from the company.
The organization’s warning came in the form of a travel advisory that
described four recent times when black passengers were said to have
been discriminated against. The N.A.A.C.P. said the similarity of the
episodes suggested “a corporate culture of racial insensitivity and
possible racial bias.”
Derrick Johnson, the N.A.A.C.P.’s new president, said that he expected
to meet with airline leaders “to air these grievances and to spur
corrective action.”
“All travelers must be guaranteed the right to travel without fear of
threat, violence or harm,” he said in a statement. “The growing list
of incidents suggesting racial bias reflects an unacceptable corporate
culture and involves behavior that cannot be dismissed as normal or
random.”
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The organization declined to name the passengers involved but
described each episode in detail. They were the subject of news
reports published between April 2016 and October 2017.
• The Rev. William Barber, who at the time was the president of
the organization’s North Carolina chapter, was removed from a flight
after exchanging words with two white passengers.
• Rane Baldwin, who had first class tickets, was moved to the back
of a plane while her white friend was permitted to stay up front.
• Tamika Mallory, an activist and co-president of the Women’s
March, was removed from a plane after questioning why her seat
assignment had been changed.
• Briana Williams, a student at Harvard Law School, was ordered
off a flight, along with her infant child, by the pilot after an
argument over a stroller.
Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Mallory and Ms. Williams confirmed that the advisory
referred to their experiences. Dr. Barber did not immediately respond
to a request for comment.
A spokeswoman for American Airlines said that the company was
“disappointed” to learn of the advisory.
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“Our team members — a diverse community of gate agents, pilots, and
flight attendants — are proud to serve customers of all backgrounds,”
the spokeswoman, Shannon Gilson, said in a statement. “Every day
American is committed to providing a positive, safe travel experience
for everyone who flies with us.”
Ms. Gilson said that N.A.A.C.P. representatives would be invited to
American Airlines headquarters in Fort Worth to discuss the issue.
“We are committed to having a meaningful dialogue about our airline,
and are ready to both listen and engage,” she said.
Ms. Williams said that she believed the pilot’s actions were racially
motivated based on the language he used with her, particularly since
he referred to her as “belligerent” and “a threat” even as she was
holding her infant daughter.
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She called for the airline to grant pilots less discretion, saying
that it would make it harder for their biases to affect passengers.
“Because they’re allowed to do whatever they want to, then if a pilot
does have racist or misogynist or homophobic characteristics, then
they’re able to utilize them to further oppress members of
disenfranchised groups,” she said.
On Wednesday, the airline sent a message to employees signed by its
chief executive, Doug Parker, emphasizing that the company’s mission
was in line with that of the N.A.A.C.P. and that it would not
“tolerate discrimination of any kind.”
This is the second high-profile travel advisory the N.A.A.C.P. has
issued in the last several months. In August, it urged
African-Americans to avoid the state of Missouri, citing
discriminatory laws and practices. It was the first statewide travel
advisory ever issued by the organization.
Follow Jonah Bromwich on Twitter: @Jonesieman.
A version of this article appears in print on October 26, 2017, on
Page B3 of the New York edition with the headline: N.A.A.C.P. Warns
Black Travelers to Steer Clear of American Airlines. Order Reprints|
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End of culled New York Times article by Jonah Engel Bromwich.
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