Kotoka International Airport (KIA) could be decertified as a safe airport if steps are not taken to stop the high incidents of animals wandering onto the runways, a senior officer of the Ghana Airports Company Limited has told TV3.

Charles Kwame Asare, who is the Managing Director of the Company, said the incident of stray animals has increased by 100% since he took over office last year.

“…and the reason is that human habitation has moved closer to the Airport,” he told TV3’s Odelia Ofori in an interview on Monday, December 29.

He said the stray animals are obstructing operations at the country's only airport.

“Our airport could be decertified as a safe airport to fly in.”

Ideally, an airport is expected to have undeveloped lands 30 miles away from it.

However, Ghana’s international airport has seen a recent upsurge in encroachment, a situation that forced the National Security Council to recently declare the airport lands as security zones. A re-demarcation exercise is also in the offing.

“You require additional space for the navigation aids that Civil Aviation needs to direct aeroplanes into the airport safely,” Mr Asare pointed out.