The Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) has concluded its 12th Commission Meeting in Abuja with the launch of a new Board of Directors and renewed efforts to strengthen aviation safety across West Africa.

The newly inaugurated Board, composed of heads of accident investigation bureaus from member states, is tasked with providing strategic direction, supervising the BAGAIA Commissioner, and improving overall decision-making within the agency.

The Board’s establishment follows a formal agreement signed by five member states on May 22, 2025.

French and Portuguese translations of the agreement are expected to be endorsed by the Council of Ministers at the upcoming 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal this September.

BAGAIA Commissioner, Engr. Charles Irikefe Erhueh, highlighted growing partnerships with regional safety organizations such as CASSOA and SASO. He acknowledged persistent funding challenges but praised member states for their continued collaboration and commitment.

The meeting opened with remarks from Mr. Fansu Bojang, Head of the Banjul Accord Group Secretariat, and Captain Alex Badeh Jr, Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). Both speakers cited Nigeria’s support to Liberia and Ghana as examples of effective regional cooperation.

Mr. Yves Koning, EASA’s Regional Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, reaffirmed the European Union’s support for BAGAIA, noting the success of the EU-funded project, which concludes on July 30, 2025.

Delegates from Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone participated in the two-day session, which focused on performance reviews, funding strategies, and enhancing investigative collaboration. Key proposals discussed included establishing regional laboratories and scaling up training for accident investigators.

The meeting marks a key milestone in BAGAIA’s ongoing efforts to improve aviation safety and investigative capacity across West Africa.