The Kotoka International Airport (KIA) risks losing it’s status as a safe airport if measures are not put in place to reduce the movement of animals on the runways.
The Managing Director of the KIA who disclosed this in an interview with TV3, said, “our airport could be decertified as a safe airport to fly in” if the issue is not resolved.
[contextly_sidebar id=”TPHizPnQNgVKueoyF0RrsI9a35x9ZuMY”]He said the incident of stray animals has increased by a 100% since he took over office in 2013, adding that the invasion of animals has been largely because “human habitation has moved closer to the airport.”
The National Security Council Secretariat a few weeks ago declared the lands around KIA as a security zone to reduce encroachment but that notwithstanding, the situation still persist.
Mr Asare lamented that the incident of the stray animals has been hindering their operations.
He said ideally, an airport is expected to have undeveloped lands 30 miles away from it explaining that “you require additional space for the navigation aids that Civil Aviation needs to direct aeroplanes into the airport safely.”
On security issues , Mr Asare said CCTV cameras are being installed at vantage points to beef up security at the airport.
He said the installation process is about 95% complete, adding that measure are also being put in place to sanitize the VIP lounge.
–
By: Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana