Mahama Must Intervene In GCAA & CSIR Lands Imbroglio

Just last week, workers of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) grounded domestic airlines in protest against the takeover of their lands by the 'powers that be' and being used for private purposes.

The action meant no air traffic control services for the domestic airlines, forcing hundreds of passengers, including foreign investors, to get stranded at the Kotoko International Airport, and almost all the domestic airports in the country.

According to the workers, the aviation lands at Adenta, which were acquired years ago, for unexplained reasons, have been handed over to private estate developers, at a time the company was struggling to locate a place to install the $600,000 equipment acquired to aid their operations at the KIA.

The workers alleged that all negotiations to get the authorities to give the land back to them have fallen on deaf ears, hence their action to ground domestic airlines.

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, who saw the danger lying ahead of the nation, quickly intervened, leading to the temporary suspension of the industrial action by the GCAA workers. As we write this editorial, the government, through the Chief of Staff, and the GCAA staff are still engaged in negotiations to settle the matter.

But, whilst this case is pending, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is also raising the red flag over the encroachment of its lands by private developers. They are warning that, if the development did not cease, it could result in food shortages in the country.

According to a Joy News report, which was broadcast yesterday, though the leadership of the CSIR, like their counterparts from GCAA, is negotiating over the issue, to their consternation, the encroachment has rather intensified.

The Chronicle finds these developments very worrying, especially, when we have a full ministry responsible for the protection of government-acquired lands in the country.   Nobody can downplay the consequences Ghana will suffer should the KIA be downgraded by the international aviation over our poor safety records.

Save the Nigerian cargo plane, which overshot the runway whilst trying to land at the KIA during a storm, Ghana has enviable aviation records, thanks to the good works of our air traffic controllers.

It, therefore, beats our imagination that assets and equipment that help the GCAA workers to write this enviable record for the country are allowed to be acquired by private individuals, without thinking about the long term negative effect on the country.

The ordinary Ghanaian who had never visited the KIA, let alone board a plane in his or her lifetime, would not bother about some of these issues.

It should have rather been the concern of ministers and top government officials who travel by air like trotro, to think about their safety, but surprisingly, they are the very people who have kept quiet, whilst the aviation lands are being sold with careless abandon.

The CSIR was also set up for specific purposes, but even though we have the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, no action has been taken, whilst lands meant for research purposes that will benefit the country are being grabbed by some greedy individuals.

Governments are not only elected to rule people, but also to protect the assets of the country. Regrettably, this is not what we are seeing now.  The Chronicle is, therefore, calling on President Mahama to put his feet down and ensure that assets of this nation, which he is managing, are well protected.

The provision of modern infrastructure at the KIA to raise its standard, for instance, will be become meaningless, if the airport is downgraded for safety reasons, because lands that would have been used to ensure safety at the airport have been taken over by private developers.

Mr. President, the ball is in your court.