The Chairman of Parliament’s Committee on Roads and Transport, Theophilus Tetteh-Chaie, has refuted claims that the safety of the country’s air safety is under threat due to encroachment on some vital lands belonging to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority at La Wireless in Accra.
Some staff of the Authority last week warned of possible safety challenges within the nation’s airspace, if equipment purchased for air safety control, are not installed immediately.
[contextly_sidebar id=”PclEelQ5DXc19zTYHp0g7S6w1EYZ4m6T”]A statement from staff of the Authority indicated that, two parcels of land at the Adenta (La Nkwantanan) and Labadi (La Wireless), earmarked for the installation of the equipment, has been taken over by encroachers.
But the MP for Ablekuma Central, revealed that his parliamentary committee has been assured by professionals in the industry that, the encroachment presents no such threats.
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Tetteh-Chaie insisted that “as the situation stands now, there is no threat to our safety and security in terms of the equipment that they have as at now.”
“New equipment are coming in, new technology, and so therefore, they need to replace the old equipment,” he added.
Mr. Tetteh-Chaie however admitted that, access to some of those lands is needed for the setting up of some of the new technology.
“In replacing these old equipment, there is the need for them to have access to some of the lands that have been encroached and that is the more reason why they are trying as much as possible to ensure the they have titles to those lands so that they also prevent future encroachment.”
Aviation industry is safe despite encroachment – GCAA
The MP’s assertions come after the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, itself allayed fears that the encroachment of airport lands would have dire consequences on air safety.
The Authority has rather blamed the takeover of parts of its lands on challenges with title deeds. According to the GCAA, the situation has also resulted in many lawsuits which are awaiting settlement.
GCAA seeks collaboration from Parliament
Meanwhile the GCAA has appealed for stronger collaboration with Parliament’s Select Committee on Transport to improve Ghana’s aviation industry.
The call also follows recent announcements on the introduction of new guidelines to regulate the use of drones. Parliament last year, also passed a new Civil Aviation Act 2015 (Act 906) which strengthened the GCAA in the regulation of Ghana’s air space.
However speaking during a visit of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, the Director General of the GCAA, Simon Allotey also assured that the Authority is building capacity the meet the dynamic needs of the aviation industry.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana