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President John Atta Mills has reiterated government�s preparedness to refurbish the country�s domestic airports, particularly the Kumasi and Sunyani Airports, to enhance domestic air transport services. President Mills also noted that plans are underway to upgrade the Tamale Airport into an alternate international airport. He disclosed these in a speech read on his behalf at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority�s 25th Anniversary celebration and Flag raising Parade on Monday at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra. According to him, government was taking a broader view of facilitating air transport beyond the activities of border control. These are undertaken by the Customs, Excise & Preventive Service (CEPS), the Ghana Immigration Service, among others, to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers in accordance with government�s policy to promote tourism as a major foreign exchange earner. �Government will continue with its policies to liberalize the regulatory framework of GCAA, expansion of infrastructure, institutional and human resources strengthening as it continues to constantly review its bilateral agreements with African countries in line with the Yamoussoukro Decision. President Mills stressed that the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with the GCAA and the Ghana Airport Company Limited, will continue with the Phase III of Rehabilitation Project of the Kotoka International Airport. According to him, the record of aviation safety in the Flight Information Region (FIR) was tremendous and unpararelled on the African continent as a result of the hard work of GCAA. He therefore expressed confidence in the GCAA, saying the aviation industry was up to task. The Minister of Transport, Collins Dauda, in an address, said more airlines were waiting to commence operations in Ghana, as part of government�s effort to make GCAA one of the safest industries. �Currently, we have about 30 airlines operating and we are expecting about four more. We are therefore encouraging the domestic carriers to take advantage of the liberalized regime and offer effective competition on the international routes with foreign carriers.� Alhaji Dauda called on the board, management and staff of GCAA to make the necessary provisions to accommodate the emerging oil and gas industry. The Director-General of GCAA, Air Cdre Kwame Mamphey, on his part, said although there have always been some challenges GCAA has chalked some significant successes. �The Accra Flight Information Region (Accra Fir), which comprises the airspaces of Ghana, Togo and Benin, is considered to be one of the safest air spaces on the continent. This is due to the fact that we have continuously invested in upgrading our technology and in our human capital to achieve this enviable goal.� Air Cdre Mamphey stressed that currently GCAA, as part of efforts to improve communication with oceanic traffic, has acquired the ADS-C/CPDLC that would be installed by the end of June, this year. He however cited the high cost of training staff and technology as major challenges facing the industry.