BAGAIA Forum addresses safety issues in West African Aviation

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 22 to 26, 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 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 aircraft accident victims within the aviation sector. The proposed policy seeks to ensure swift provision of medical assistance and services to aircraft accident victims, consequently minimising delays in the support process.

The overarching goal of this policy is to streamline the assistance airlines are mandated to provide directly to aircraft accident victims and their families. Drawing a parallel with road accidents where vehicles are insured to cover the well-being of these victims, the reality often involves prolonged procedures. Typically, aircraft accident 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 fulfil their outlined responsibilities promptly and efficiently, aligning with the broader objective of enhancing safety measures within the aviation sector.

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