The Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB) Ghana, Mr. Akwasi Agyeibi Prempeh, actively participated in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – Air Navigation Bureau held in the Republic of Cape Verde from January 22nd to 26th, 2024.
This crucial gathering, hosted at the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) Headquarters in Praia, Cape Verde, saw the participation of representatives from BAGAIA, Banjul Accord Group (BAG) Member States, and ICAO. The BAGAIA and BAG States include Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Guinea, Gambia, and Liberia.
The primary aim of the forum was to foster dialogue among BAGAIA, BAG Member States, and ICAO representatives, addressing matters concerning Aircraft Safety Investigation and other safety-related aspects in the BAG Region. Furthermore, it provided an opportunity for BAG Member States to raise concerns and pose questions related to aviation safety, impacting their respective agencies and other operational activities.
In a significant development, last year, AIB-Ghana in its collaboration with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is formulating a policy to support accident victims and their families within the aviation sector. The proposed policy seeks to ensure swift provision of medical assistance and services to accident victims, consequently minimizing delays in the support process.
The overarching goal of this policy is to streamline the assistance airlines are mandated to provide directly to accident victims. Drawing a parallel with road accidents, where vehicles are insured to cover the well-being of accident victims, the reality often involves prolonged procedures. Typically, victims find themselves responsible for their immediate needs, navigating through bureaucratic processes to file claims, sometimes culminating in legal disputes.
The implementation of this policy holds the promise of facilitating the regulatory work undertaken by AIB-Ghana. It seeks to guarantee that airlines fulfill their outlined responsibilities promptly and efficiently, aligning with the broader objective of enhancing safety measures within the aviation sector.
