Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister of Transport, has urged the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to invest in modern aviation technology to safeguard Ghana’s airspace.

“If Ghana is to become an aviation hub, safety and security must remain our top priority. This means continuous investment in modern communication, navigation and surveillance systems to improve coordination and protect our airspace,” she said.

Madam Affo-Toffey made the call during an official tour of the GCAA and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) as part of her familiarisation visits to agencies under the Ministry of Transport.

She said the visit was to engage with management and staff, understand their operations, appreciate ongoing work, and identify challenges that require support to improve performance.

The Deputy Minister toured key GCAA facilities, including the Air Traffic Control Centre, the existing Air Traffic Control Tower, equipment rooms housing Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance systems, and the new Air Navigation Services Complex.

She also visited the Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems, the Multi-Agency Command Centre, and the Ghana Aviation Training Academy located near the Air Navigation Services Complex.

Madam Affo-Toffey said the GCAA played a critical role in regulating the aviation industry, managing national airspace and ensuring safety and security, and commended the Authority for its efforts.

“I am here to engage with you directly, understand your operations and see how we can strengthen your work by supporting you through the Ministry,” she said.

Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur, Director-General of the GCAA, presented an overview of the Authority’s operations and stated that it was mandated to regulate civil aviation and provide safe and secure air navigation services in accordance with the Ghana Civil Aviation Act, 2024 (Act 1120).

He said the GCAA was responsible for aviation safety regulation, aviation security oversight, aerodrome certification, economic regulation and the provision of air navigation services within the Accra Flight Information Region, which covers extensive oceanic airspace.

Reverend Arthur said the Authority was undertaking strategic projects, including the construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower to replace the existing facility, which has operational and visibility limitations.

He said civil works on the new tower were about 54 per cent complete and expected to be finalised by the end of the year, with equipment installation continuing into next year.

The entire project is expected to be completed by May 2027, he added.

Reverend Arthur said the implementation of the Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems formed part of efforts to strengthen aviation security and border control.

He identified funding constraints, the high cost of air navigation infrastructure, specialised human resource requirements, and the potential misuse of drones as challenges confronting the Authority.

“Again, another threat is the use of drones. If not used properly, they can pose a safety risk.

So, especially during the festive occasions around East Legon, which happens to be in the approach path, a lot of high beam, laser beams serve as dangerous risks to the operations, the landing and even take off of aircraft.”

Despite the challenges, Reverend Arthur said the GCAA continued to enjoy strong cooperation from the Ministry of Transport and pledged to fulfil its mandate to ensure safe, secure, and efficient air transport for the people of Ghana.