As a result, it is demanding a thorough audit into the operations of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

The civil society group maintains that the failure by the GCAA to comply with a caution on the quality of the pilot seat of a Starbow aircraft, partly accounted for the accident that occurred in November last year.

The comments also follow the investigative report on the cause and recommendations into the incident by an ad-hoc committee.

The Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety, Nana Yaw Akwadah tells Citi Business News the issue must be taken seriously.

“We are calling on the ICAO to immediately open an audit into the activities and practices of the GCAA just so we know whether they are complying with the minimum standards by ICAO; we have also called for them to provide us with the recent audit report on the GCAA for study so that we can assure ourselves and the public of their safety,” he told Citi Business News.

A Kumasi bound Starbow aircraft skidded off the runway at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on that fateful day; November 25, 2017.

All passengers and crew members were however able to escape unhurt.

The issue led to the commissioning of an investigative committee.

But subsequently, Starbow which had only one aircraft operating at the time, suspended activities and asked almost all of the workers of the company to go home, albeit temporarily.

The investigative committee has since completed its work but the Bureau of Public Safety maintains that the officials of the GCAA neglected an earlier safety precaution.

“The Bureau of Public Safety has come to the firm conclusion that the unfortunate incident which may have cost over sixty-eight lives could have been prevented had the regulator i.e. Ghana Civil Aviation Authority ensured that an earlier issued air worthiness directive (AD No. 2016-0256) regarding the seats of the pilot and the co-pilot were implemented,” portions of the statement indicated.

The consumer group added, “We found it extremely worrying that investigators having established evidential and unambiguous violation on the part of the GCAA still went ahead to fault only Starbow (i.e the operator) and the flight crew without any recommendations whatsoever for the regulator (i.e. GCAA).”

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Air disaster looms over ‘neglect’ of safety concerns – Group appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The crash, which resulted in five minor injuries occurred after the aircraft skidded off the runway during its take-off run.

[contextly_sidebar id=”kX1ILagdkYkbybcNuwRT336u5Jcrx8gc”]The Bureau, in a statement, indicated that the incident could have been prevented if “an earlier airworthiness of directive regarding the seats of the pilots and co-pilot were implemented.”

It further pointed out that it found it extremely “worrying” that investigators, having established “evidence-based and unambiguous violation on the part of the GCAA still went ahead to fault only Starbow and the flight crew without any recommendations whatsoever for the regulator.”

“The BPS believes this action of the investigation team leaves air traffic and passenger safety in Ghana’s aviation industry in grave danger,” the statement said.

Aside the 2017 crash, some other incidents involving Starbow airlines have been recorded in previous years.

In 2015, passengers on board a Tamale-bound Starbow airline, had the scare of their lives when the aircraft, BAE with registration 9GSBB, crash landed in Tamale although no injuries were recorded.

In 2014, two people were injured after a Takoradi bound Starbow aircraft made an emergency landing.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and other stakeholders in the aviation sector, have often been criticized for not cracking the whip enough on these airline operators, hence putting the lives of passengers at risk.

Proffering stringent measures to reverse the trend, the BPS called on the Parliamentary Select Committees on Transport, Defense and Interior to scrutinize the accident investigation report and ensure that the GCAA is committed to some recommendations as has been done to the Operator (Starbow) and the flight crew to ensure safer air transportation in Ghana.

The BPS also called for the creation of an independent body to investigate such accidents. They want government “to expand the aviation industry so as to build confidence in the sector.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Starbow crash : GCAA ‘ignored’ directive on pilot seats – Safety Bureau appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It said in a statement that “State institutions responsible for instituting corrective actions (by implementing recommendations) have either failed to discharge themselves fully or have simply gone to sleep after the caskets were closed and the flags flying half masts were lifted.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”TnAPdRiqJNTGc7eINLW2UBBvOKyvBtdG”]It thus urged the government to revisit all accident investigation reports since 2012 “to review and evaluate recommendations submitted.”

The group added that, this will ensure the implementation “of corrective measures proposed by the various investigation teams.”

154 lives were lost as a result of the June 3 fire and flood disaster, with over 150 persons also injured in the incident.

But it took over two years for the government to put its foot down on a matter such as the risky siting of fuel filling stations.

In October 2017, the government announced some key interventions, among which fuel stations deemed high-risk across the country were to be shut-down and the construction of petrol/diesel and LPG filling points halted.

This came after the massive explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic Junction, where seven lives were lost.

Leaked report in public interest

On the leaking of the report, the Bureau said it was done in the interest of the public.

“…the BPS having intercepted an authentic, credible and a bonafide copy of the full report of June 3rd 2015 ‘Fire Flood’ accident ( popularly referred to as June 3rd disaster) investigations, have decided to publish same in the interest of the general public to enable citizens appreciate the full impact of their acts of commissions or omissions, and also hold duty bearers accountable.”

“This campaign by the BPS will rage on for as long as the State holds on to these reports. The Bureau of Public Safety will continue to use all legally justifiable means to obtain or secure credibly bonafide copies of such reports and shall make same public upon satisfying ourselves that they are indeed genuine,” the statement concluded.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post State went to sleep after June 3 disaster – Bureau of Public Safety appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The five-member committee tasked to probe the June 3, 2015, fire and flood disaster, recommended a review of siting of fuel stations and highlighted the need for stricter safety measures.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nLGetNxGw762LLfjZEsxk1wO35mCqYkz”]A leaked report, sighted by Citi News said: “the NPA, EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and GNFS [Ghana Fire Service], should ensure that the siting of fuel stations and gas stations is critically examined and safety measures put in place to save lives and property.”

The report also said “the NPA should conduct regular unannounced inspections of retail outlets even in the night, and document all such inspections,” among other recommendations.

But no serious signals, safety-wise, were seen from the government or regulatory authorities despite the scale of the June 3 disaster which claimed 154 lives and injured over 150 persons.

It however took the massive explosion in October 2017, at an LPG filling station at Atomic Junction, where seven lives were lost for any serious action from the government.

State has gone to sleep

The Bureau of Public Safety, in a statement, said it leaked the report in the interest of the public.

It said state institutions responsible for instituting corrective actions by implementing recommendations had either failed to discharge themselves fully or had simply gone to sleep following the disaster.

It thus urged the government to revisit all accident investigation reports since 2012 “to review and evaluate recommendations submitted.”

The Bureau added that, this will ensure the implementation “of corrective measures proposed by the various investigation teams.”

The outrage, following the explosion, highlighted the widespread concern over the lax safety standards of some LPG and petrol filling stations, which has seen about six major explosions and multiple deaths since then, not counting the June 3 fire and flood disaster at a petrol station.

In October 2017, the government announced some key interventions, among which fuel stations deemed high-risk across the country were to be shut-down and the construction of petrol/diesel and LPG filling points halted.

In all the President directed the:

• immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
• review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business;
• institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;
• review the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), National Fire Service (NFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations;
• deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety. High risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards;
• the immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime;
• the recruitment by NPA of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices;
• expedition of action by the Fire Service and the Police Service of on-going investigations. Any operator or regulatory official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established, will face the full rigors of the law;
• immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post June 3 report recommendations on fuel stations ‘abandoned’ for 2-yrs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.