Aviation workers lament over safety land encroachment

The Professional Workers’ Union of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA have expressed their displeasure in the unlawful encroachment of the Authority’s lands.

The workers complain of aviation safety lands being taken over by the government, an act they believe can threaten safety at the country’s International Airport.

Speaking to Citi Business News, Spokesperson for union, William Wilberforce Amoako, explained the effects that the National Cathedral project and the evacuation of judges from their residence have on their operations.

“The lands in question are for private development and the resettling of the judges. But since the area has been demarcated, the government has taken over a portion while another portion has been allocated to the people of La. But it is our portion that we are having challenges with. We expect that the GCAA belongs to the government, as such, whatever the government takes should be for the GCAAA and not for individuals,” he remarked.

Amoako added that, “We have only been given fifteen out of the ninety acres which is not enough for the equipment that we have, and we plan to have in future. For safety of flights, we need these lands for aviation development.”

The encroached areas being talked about are the GCAA lands at La Nkwatanang, La TX at Cantonments, Ashaley Botwe, and an area around the East Legon Tunnel all in Accra.

Citi Business News reports that in 2008, the aviation workers raised concerns when government took thirty acres of its land at La Wireless for the construction of the AU village.

The workers also lament the confrontations with some of the persons encroaching their lands..

“Between 2014 and 2016, the government took over almost all the 614 acres of the Aviation land at La Nkwatanan, despite an earlier agreement with our management to reserve 250 acres for aviation purposes. This happened at a time we were having serious communication challenges. We had a confrontation with government and about 150 acres of that land was promised us for the installation of some new communication equipment but that never materialized,” William Wilberforce Amoako further intimated.

Meanwhile, the aviation protesters comprising seven professional staff unions have called for the removal of the Board Chairman of the GCAA, Air Commodore Rexford G.M. Acquah.

They say they will outline series of actions if they do not get a favourable response from the government and management.