Aviation experts meet in Accra

Pg 31. Fri. May 09/08

Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho & Kimberley Robertson

AVIATION experts are meeting in Accra to come up with a draft policy for the operation and improvement in general aviation services in the country.
The draft policy is expected to set guidelines for a National Aviation Policy, which will ensure that general aviation is improved in order to promote development and increase revenue in the aviation industry and the country as a whole.
General aviation covers a wide range of activities, both commercial and non-commercial, including private flying, flight training, air ambulance, police aircraft, aerial fire-fighting, air charter, bush flying, gliding, ultra light aircraft operation and aircraft maintenance activities.
The Minister of Aviation, Ms Gloria Akuffo, who opened the two-day workshop on general aviation, said the vision of her ministry was to make Ghana an “aviation hub” and a gateway to the West African sub-region by 2015.
She said despite an increase in airlines that operated in the country, aircraft maintenance was currently being carried out elsewhere, at great cost to the economy.
She therefore said that creating a general aviation base in Ghana would act as a source of income generation, as well as provide practical training, agricultural and health service delivery and boost tourism.
Ms Akuffo said the ministry’s mission was to “promote a competitive, efficient and cost-effective aviation sector, ensuring safety and security whilst minimising the impact on the environment”.
According to her, for the ministry to achieve its mission and vision, there was a need to develop general aviation as an essential component of aviation.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Aviation, Mr George Scott, said the workshop was aimed at stimulating awareness amongst the policy and regulatory bodies of the general aviation sector.
He said the workshop would bring to light developments in other countries in order to learn from their experiences and adapt accordingly to meet Ghana’s specific needs as a developing nation, as well as encourage Ghanaian youth into aviation-related careers in order to reduce dependence on non-residents.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Julius Okyere Boateng, who chaired the opening ceremony, observed that Ghana had not been able to take advantage of the opportunities that civil aviation offered because the country depended on revenue only from scheduled airline flights as opposed to general aviation.


• Ms Gloria Akuffo (second right) in a chat with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Julius Okyere Boateng (middle), and the Chief Director of the Ministry of Aviation, Mr George Scott (left), after the minister had opened the workshop.