The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has commenced talks with Togo and Benin to co-manage their respective upper airspace.
Togo and Benin have requested for autonomy from Ghana in the management of their respective upper airspace, as contention over revenue deepens.
The internationally designated Accra Flight Information Region (FIR) which refers to the combined upper airspace and large portions of the Atlantic Ocean of Ghana, Togo, and Benin has been managed by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority on behalf of the three countries for decades.
Citi Business News has learnt that air navigation charges for international flights that were operating within the Accra FIR as at 2010 was US$0.75 per kilometre flown.
While the minimum charge within the Accra FIR is US$200 and a maximum of US$600 with aircrafts, that weigh between 4 – 20 tonnes, charged a US$200 flat rate.
Data from the GCAA indicates that for the first half of this year, aircraft movement stood at 12,836 for international operation and with a minimum air navigational charge of US$200, Ghana alone made about US$2,567,200 from airlines that used the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in 2010.
In 2013 International aircraft movement to and from the Kotoka International Airport was at 23,437 from 21,072 in 2010.
Acting Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority Abdulai Alhassan, tells Citi Business News the move will significantly affect the revenue of the country.
He pointed out that revenues accrued are reinvested into getting modern technological equipment but not spent by GCAA as being speculated.
“The issue is that we had some MOU with them to co-manage the airspace over the years and that is what we are activating so we co-manage the airspace. Infact that was their earlier request which we gladly have asked them to let us have talks which when they agree they would send their people here for us to co-manage the airspace.”
Acting Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority says Ghana has invited the team from Togo and Benin for discussions on co – managing the airspace.
“Normally with the aviation industry you reinvest the proceeds into your equipment and so that is what we have been doing over the years. is not a profiting making entity because per the standards we just have to reinvest in new technologies and equipment which we do all the time.”
By: Norvan Acquah Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana