Aviation Authority denies mess in operation

Accra, Feb 15, GNA - The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), says it is not true that the GCAA is experiencing an administrative crisis. It has also denied any intended strike action by air traffic controllers.

Reacting to media publications, a release signed by Mr Eric Noi, Corporate Communications Manager, GCAA, said the decoupling exercise, which established the Ghana Airports Company (GACL) from the GCAA had been smooth.

"The two entities are complementary as the GCAA is by industry practice, the regulator and the GACL the operator," the release said. It said the Public Services Workers Union, which was the mother union to which the GCAA employees belonged as well as the employees themselves were part of the decoupling process, which was handled in line with the collective bargaining agreement of the GCAA.

The release said the agreement reached between the GCAA and its workers union guaranteed the payment of all terminal benefits at the time of exit of staff from either the GCAA or GACL.

"This has been captured in a memorandum of understanding, which has been duly executed by both parties," it said, adding that there was therefore no administrative confusion over the fate of staff.

Reacting to allegations of faulty runway lights at the Kumasi Airport in the publication, the release said an exercise was already underway to ensure safe night operations at regional airports. The release explained that the decoupling exercise was to enable the GCAA to focus on its core role as the regulatory arm of the Aviation industry in Ghana with the GACL taking care of the commercial aspect of the industry.

It said this was in conformity with best practice and recommendations by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which stipulated that there should be a separate regulator from the operator.

"We wish to encourage all media practitioners to approach us for information on any issue to ensure that the true facts are published at all times," it said.