IATA Conference in Ghana
The Vice President of IATA,
The AG. Director – General, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
The Managing Director, Ghana Airports Company Ltd
Distinguished IATA Officials, Stakeholders of the
Aviation Industry
Members of the Media,
By Honourable Dzifa Ativor – Minister of Aviation for Ghana
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
I am indeed delighted to be part of this function and to deliver the keynote address at this annual IATA stakeholder’s Forum captioned “IATA DAY”.
I wish to join my earlier speakers in giving a warm welcome to all participants, especially our foreign participants and to express my appreciation to IATA for hosting this event in Accra.
As we all know, Governments worldwide recognizes aviation as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of many countries such as ours. It is also a sector that contributes greatly to employment generation and wealth creation.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The rapid expansion in Africa’s aviation industry is hampered by a number of factors including poor record of safety and security, lack of adequate aviation infrastructure, limited connectivity among others.
These constraints couples with competition from well-established international carriers leads to high operating cost for sub-regional carriers. Addressing these challenges therefore could significantly unlock the industry’s potential for future growth and regional integration.
With the Minister of Aviation for Ghana Honourable Dzifa Ativor (3rd from right), Commercial Director of Africa World Airlines, Katherine Woode, The DG Ghana CAA Mr. Abdullahi and Rajesh of Satguru travels Ghana.
Events such as these, there go a long way in identifying industry concerns and developing a broad consensus on how to address them. The vast amount of information and knowledge that you, our stakeholders, have are very crucial if we are to find workable, efficient and sustainable solutions to the issues confronting our industry today.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Permit me to throw some light on a few developments within the aviation sector in Ghana.
Ghana is implementing the Liberalized Aviation Policy as well as other several initiatives aimed at modernizing the sector and to create the enabling regulatory and operating environment that would facilitate the creation of KIA as a hub within the West African sub-region.
With regards to infrastructure development, there are major infrastructure works in progress, which when completed, will enable a sustained development of our aviation hub agenda. These projects include an expansion of the existing arrival hall at the KIA to accommodate the growing number of travelers and to facilitate passengers. Also, a new Terminal 3 is being developed to ease congestion as the existing terminal which has reached its capacity and also to introduce new facilities such as boarding bridges.
Two other domestic airports, Tamale and Kumasi Airports are undergoing some phased rehabilitation to improve the facilities at these airports.
The Tamale airport is being upgraded to an international airport as alternate to KIA. The first phase of this development includes the construction and extension of the runway from 2400 to 3400 meters with the installation of new AGL and aprons for Code F aircraft.
Ladies and Gentlemen
With regards to safety and security, Government has put in place all necessary measure to ensure the sustenance of high safety and security standards within our aviation jurisdiction and this can be attested to by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Safety and security will always be a top priority and can never be over emphasized. Our obligations include having a comprehensive safety and security regime based on ICAO standards and recommended practices.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Currently, the Ministry together with GCAA has commenced constitutional processes to amend the GCAA Act, 678 of 2004. The purpose of the amendment is to provide modifications that are necessary following a mandatory Universal Safety Oversight Audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
to bring it in line with international best practices.
The Ministry will continue to ensure internal policies and encourage all industry players to align with ICAO SARPs in order to promote safe and secure airspace with our regions.
Ladies and Gentlemen
You would agree with me that product and processes and innovation are good things and should always be encourgaed if they will benefit the aviation industry. IATA remains at the forefront of establishing global standards and best practices for airlines and we are happy to continue our collaboration with them
for the benefit of our travelling public.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Aviation connects Ghana and its citizens to the world; it generates trade, creates jobs and is the backbone of economic growth. It also encourages social interaction, promotes tourism and brings families closer together.
In the light of the socio-economic benefits of aviation to any country, we all have a vested interest to develop sustainable policies that would guide the industry and I am confident that by the end of this event, we would have moved more closer to this goal.
Ladies and Gentlemen
On behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, I wish all members of IATA a successful celebration and to our foreign participants, I invite you to sample the proverbial Ghanaian hospitality.
Thank you and have a fruitful deli
