Ghana wants Banjul Accord Group aviation agreement reviewed

Mr Willie Orhin, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), has stressed the need for the review of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) agreement which last saw an amendment in 2004.

This was contained in a statement issued in Accra on Tuesday by the GCAA on the meeting between the Authority and stakeholders in the aviation industry in Ghana, including airline operators, ground handlers, and airport officials to collate proposals for the review of the BAG Agreement at the next BAG meeting in Banjul, Gambia in September 2012.

Mr Orhin noted that the meeting was an opportunity for the stakeholders to present their views, comments and suggestions for onward presentation to the BAG at the next meeting.

The agreement, which was signed by the member states on January 29 2004, requires BAG member States to harmonise their policies and procedures on civil aviation and foster the development of international civil aviation through cooperative arrangements between the States

The Banjul Accord Group consists of seven ECOWAS states – Ghana, Liberia, Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

The group is also open to state agencies, eligible airlines and service providers within the ECOWAS Community.

The main objective of the BAG is to ensure that all members States and other members operate in line with the Yamoussoukro Declaration. The group also enters into joint ventures and or co-operative arrangements to foster the development of International Civil Aviation amongst member states whilst liaising with also with non-member states and organizations for the benefit of all members.

The Chief Planning Officer of the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Twumasi Ankrah Selby, who represented the Minister of Transport, encouraged all aviation stakeholders to join the BAG as it served as a platform to share ideas and ensure that their interests were upheld.

Source: GNA