Ghanaian Exporters Lay off Workers As ‘Ash Clouds’ Halts Aviation Traffic
Posted : 20 Apr 2010
Ghanaian Exporters Lay off Workers As ‘Ash Clouds’ Halts Aviation Traffic
Ghanaian businesses, especially exporters of perishable cargos, are beginning to feel the pinch of the European airports closure. Most of the airports in Europe have remained shut to airlines since last Thursday as a result of the volcanic ash clouds that have engulfed the skies over most of the continent.
Passengers have suffered severe disruptions to schedules as a result. But it appears producers of perishable exports such as pineapples destined for European markets have to pay so much more for the closures with tons of their produce likely go bad.
Fresh fruits exporter Blue Skies, which employs about 1,500 people at its Nsawam factory, says it has been forced to lay off workers. General Manager Ruth Adjei tells Joy Business the company is also losing about 100,000 pounds a day.
Other businesses affected by the closure include the postal and courier agencies.Most of the airlines operating out of Accra to European destinations have since Thursday cancelled several of their flights advising passengers to check with the airports before leaving their homes.
