Ghana risks judgement debts over invasion of airport lands – GCAA

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, and for that matter government risks paying huge judgement debts running into several millions of cedis if authorities fail to step in to stop an invasion of lands belonging to the Authority.

This is the fear expressed among workers of the GCAA.

Their concerns follow what they refer to as the unregulated invasion of lands earmarked for monitoring and guiding landing and taking off of aircrafts at the airport.

Spokesperson for the joint workers’ unions at the GCAA, William Amoako explains to Citi Business News the inability of the authority to install a 600,000 Euros HF facility it purchased some months ago, will likely result in the abrogation of a contract hence the judgement debt.

“Our local engineers are supposed to mount platforms and erect certain structures before their foreign counterparts will come and mount the antennas and other infrastructure,” he stated.

He added, “If that does not happen before July 11,2016, it means we either have to stop them from coming and the company that is  the management of the GCAA will have to pay some damages and because we couldn't finish our part of the agreement on time, there will be some financial implications on the authority.”

The workers have also warned of a possible end in Air Traffic Services in the Accra Flight Information region if government fails to heed their plea.

A statement issued on the development indicated that two parcels of land which were acquired to be used as receiving and transmitting stations at La Nkwantanan and La Wireless respectively, have also been forcefully taken over by government between 2007 till present.

William Amoako further raised concern that the situation will greatly affect the aviation industry if not addressed as quickly as possible.

“We are finding it difficult to communicate with aircrafts over the ocean and other places. The consequence is that it can break down totally and once the system breaks down, we will not be able to talk or communicate with other aircrafts which are a bit far away from Accra central,” he explained to Citi Business News.

“We manage a very big portion of the ocean, all the aircrafts over the ocean are being monitored by various equipment, radar systems as well as and communication. Once we do not have contact with them to tell them what exactly to do, it creates a lot of safety issues,” he further observed.

Appeals have been unsuccessful
The workers also argued that several attempts by management of the GCAA through the Ministry of Transport for about 250 acres of land to be released to them have been unsuccessful.

“We are aware that, the management  of GCAA, as well as the ministry of Transport, has made several appeals, and has justified   the need to; at least, give about 250 acres of the land back to GCAA, but all to no avail,” portions of the statement read.

The group also warned of some safety and security implications to the country's aviation industry.

“We want  to reiterate  that  if the  said  land is not released  for the  installation   of this  vital  equipment, the system can shut down  and we may not be able to provide  Air Traffic  Services over the ocean and other portions of the airspace. This will have safety and security implications for the country and the industry in general.”

–
By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana