Ghana’s aviation regulator said it has put in place sweeping contingency measures to keep air traffic operations running smoothly, even as workers responsible for maintaining key aviation systems prepare to strike.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced Wednesday that it expects no disruptions to domestic or international flights within the Accra Flight Information Region (FIR) despite a planned nationwide walkout by the Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) set to begin Thursday.
“The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority wishes to assure all airline operators, aviation stakeholders, and the traveling public that comprehensive contingency measures have been activated to ensure the continued safe, reliable, and secure provision of air traffic services,” the regulator said in a statement.
The GCAA said it has implemented a Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) contingency plan to maintain operations during the strike. The plan details backup procedures, emergency response teams, and coordination protocols designed to preserve service continuity and safety standards.
The authority urged calm among passengers and airline operators, emphasizing its “full commitment to maintaining the highest standards of air navigation service delivery and ensuring the safety and security of all flights within Ghana’s airspace.”
The move comes amid escalating labor tensions at the GCAA. GhATSEA, which represents technical staff overseeing critical air traffic safety and electronics systems, declared an indefinite strike starting October 30 over longstanding grievances about poor working conditions, inequitable job placements, and stagnant pay structures.
In a separate statement, GhATSEA President Engr. David Annan Mensah said members’ patience had “completely run out” after more than a decade of unaddressed concerns. The group accused GCAA’s Director of Human Resources, Ebenezer Sagoe, of “persistent mismanagement” and called for his removal. It also criticized Acting Director-General Rev. Stephen Arthur and Acting Deputy Director-General (Technical) Theophilus Ago for what it described as indifference toward staff welfare.
The GCAA, in its statement, reiterated its commitment to “valuing human capacity development and promoting staff welfare,” even as it works to ensure uninterrupted air navigation services.
