Air transport forms one of the fundamental and yet complicated transport
operation in the world. It is most appreciated as a crucial mode of transporting
persons and goods across continents and regions, mobilizing huge sums of
revenue for industry operators including revenues for countries for national
development. Ghana’s aviation industry stands resilient and gained high
reputation across the world since independence. Nonetheless, this enviable
status is sometimes challenged by unfortunate accidents and serious incidents.
Since 2012, Ghana has recorded six (6) major aircraft accidents and numerous
serious incidents, involving deaths of persons and damage to property. His
Excellency’s vision of making Ghana the aviation hub of West Africa may remain a
dream if the infrastructure and appropriate institutions are not established in the
aviation industry to deal with relevant issues, such as matters of aircraft accidents
and incidents, in line with national obligations and international standards.
Section 25 of the Ghana Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act, 2019, Act 985 mandates
the Minister for Aviation to be responsible for the investigation of aircraft
accidents and serious incidents that occurs in or over Ghana and Accra Flight
Information Region. In exercising the power conferred on the Minister as in
Section 25 and in consultation with major stakeholders in the Aviation Industry,
the Minister for Aviation by Ministerial Directive established an Accident
Investigation Bureau (AIB) on 27th March, 2019, as an Administrative Unit for the
conduct of investigation into aircraft accidents and serious incidents.
This Unit continued to function until research of international best practices and
references to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) indicated the
need to establish a more prudent and consolidated autonomous body to man the
Accident Investigation Bureau. A deeper comprehension of Report of the ICAO
Validated Coordinated Mission (ICVM) on Ghana from 26 th March to 3 rd April 2019,
strongly affirmed the position of establishing an independent institution to
conduct investigations into aircraft accidents and incidents when they occur. It
was realised that ad-hoc investigation teams are not only expensive in terms of
operations but are unable to sustain institutional memory for future
investigations, policy enforcements and efficiency in terms of meeting
international obligations. Subsequently, countries such as Japan, Malta, Nigeria,
Ethiopia, Singapore, Qatar, Netherlands, United States of America, United
Kingdom among others established autonomous aircraft accident investigation
bodies.
Nonetheless, Ghana had achieved an enviable record in aviation safety arena with
the latest being the Effective Implementation score of 89.89 percent, the highest
score in 2019. Thus, ICAO in 2019 in its 40th ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada,
awarded Ghana two prestigious awards in aviation safety and security. This
prestige may be lost in subsequent evaluations if international standards of
establishing autonomous investigation body was not addressed.
Consequently, on 6 th July, 2020, His Excellency the President, granted executive
approval for the laying in Parliament of the Aircraft Accident and Incident
Investigation and Prevention Bureau Bill, 2020. This was intended to pursue the
establishment of an autonomous institution in charge of investigation into aircraft
accidents and incidents in accordance with the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
In October, 2020, Parliament passed the Aircraft Accident and Incident
Investigation and Prevention Bureau Act, 2020, (Act 1028). It was assented to by
His Excellency the President on 6 th October, 2020. The Bureau came into full
operation by the appointment of Mr. Akwasi Agyeibi Prempeh, as the first Acting
Commissioner, charged with the responsibility of rationalizing the vision implicit
in Act 1028 into concrete actions and deliverables.
The Bureau is mandated to investigate, prevent, regulate and oversee the
management of aircraft accidents and incidents that occur in Ghana; and to
provide for related matters.
The objectives of the Bureau are:
a) Prevent the occurrence of aircraft accidents and incidents in Ghana;
b) Investigate aircraft accidents and incidents that occur in Ghana;
c) Regulate and oversee the processes and standards in investigating aircraft accidents and incidents in Ghana;
d) Develop confident-oriented accidents and incidents reports and safety
recommendations; and
e) Manage matters relating to aircraft accidents and incidents in Ghana;