…transport minister charges new GCAA board
The Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has implored the new board of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to be innovative and work assiduously to improve the financial fortunes of the Authority, which he said are in a dire situation.
He said COVID-19 has left the sector to struggle, resulting in travel restrictions and loss of jobs; hence, the new board’s role is crucial toward recovery and deepening gains.
“You will come to appreciate the fact that the Authority’s financial fortunes are in a dire situation, and you will need to be innovative as a board to improve the situation,” he said in a statement read on his behalf by the deputy sector minister, Hassan Tampuli.
The minister also beseeched the nine-member board to employ a harmonised and inclusive approach to facilitate safe domestic and international air travel.
The board members have also been tasked to keep themselves abreast with the Authority’s business, take strategic decisions for implementation by management, ensure good corporate governance and also uphold the values of accountability, efficiency, probity and transparency in the discharge of their duties.
“You will agree that envisaged economic benefits will elude the nation if it loses sight of re-enforcing safety and security protocols as stipulated in ICAO Annex 17 and related Standards and Recommended Practices (SAPRs).
“You must recognise that for Ghana to become the hub, there must be conscious efforts and some amount of investment to improve the sector’s safety and security. Investment must be made in state-of-the-art equipment for communication and surveillance to enhance better coordination and improvement of the airspace safety,” he told the new board.
New Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower
In the quest to ensure safety and security within the West African Region, Mr. Asiamah said the board as matter of urgency must also work closely with management to expidite construction of the new Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower, which has already started.
“During the ICAO audit of the sector in 2018, you will recall that Ghana was adjudged Best in Africa for safety and security of its airspace with a score of 89.89 percent. In this regard, it is our collective duty to ensure that standard is not only maintained but also improved upon,” he said.
Labour agitations
“The Authority has been challenged in recent times with labour agitations from its union workers over the use of aviation lands and other matters. These are matters of concern to the ministry and you are entreated to engage management and the labour unions to forge a peaceful working relationship to ensure smooth running of the Authority,” he implored the board
Members of the board
Members of the board include Captain Powis D. Spencer, Mr. Charles Kraikue, Ms. Mabel Sagoe, Mr. Kwasi Owusu Ansah, Air Commodore Jacob Anum Ashrifie, Ms. Joyce Opoku Boateng, Ms. Cecilia Kwofie, Mr. Ofori Kofi Newman; and MP for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai constituency, Mr. Alfred Obeng Boateng.
On behalf of the board, Captain Powis D. Spencer expressed gratitude to President Nana Akufo-Addo for the confidence reposed in the members, and assured that it will work to strengthen the Authority’s policy direction in ensuring that government’s agenda of making Ghana an aviation hub is achieved.
He also said they will ensure that a conducive environment is established to leverage the years of experience of its members, and together with the GCAA management and Staff create the single synergy needed to achieve progressively positive results.
GCAA
Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is responsible for regulating the Air transport industry in Ghana and provides Air Navigation Services within the Accra Flight Information Region.
