On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on the formulation of a Drone Sector Roadmap and Candidate Projects.

The ceremony was held at the GCAA headquarters located within Kotoka International Airport.

The Korean delegation included Principal Researchers Cho Joo-Yong and Jung Gi-hun, as well as Professor Lee Byung-seok, Director of the Drone Security Strategy Institute at Soonchunhyang University.

In addition to the signing ceremony, the visit by the South Korean delegation aimed to finalise discussions on a comprehensive cooperation plan and to conduct a preliminary stakeholder survey within Ghana’s drone sector.

Under South Korea’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme—which provides non-repayable aid in the form of financial support, goods, or services—KOTSA, a quasi-governmental agency under the Asian country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, will implement the Ghana Drone Initiative.

The initiative supports sustainable development goals by addressing key needs in areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and human resource development.

The Drone Sector Roadmap and Candidate Projects Formulation initiative, scheduled to begin in 2025, will span eight months. This foundational project is intended to guide the structured development of Ghana’s drone ecosystem. Additionally, the Korean delegation is planning three further projects aimed at advancing Ghana’s drone sector:

1. Regulatory Framework and Drone Safety Management Project – Commencing in 2028 and running for five years.
2. Drone Pilot Training Programme – Set to begin in 2030 and continue for four years.
3. Drone Industry Ecosystem Development Project – Starting in 2032, also with a four-year duration.

The Korean delegation emphasised the importance of first establishing a robust roadmap and identifying candidate projects to ensure targeted support and alignment with Ghana’s national development goals.

Welcoming the delegation, the Acting Director-General of the GCAA, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, underscored the increasing importance of drone operations in Ghana and the need for robust regulatory frameworks.
He noted that beyond air traffic considerations, attention must also be paid to the security implications of drone operations.

Rev. Arthur reaffirmed that the GCAA already has directives in place governing the importation, use, and operationalisation of drones in Ghana.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to integrate drone activities into Ghana’s air traffic management systems through the use of advanced software solutions.

Describing the drone sector as a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry, Rev. Arthur welcomed the Korean initiative as timely and well-aligned with Ghana’s needs.

He expressed appreciation for potential Korean support in the areas of human capacity development, technology transfer, and regulatory enhancement.

KOTSA is tasked with ensuring a safe and efficient transportation environment across various modes, including drones.

The Authority has been instrumental in developing drone safety systems and implementing related projects.
Through this partnership, KOTSA aims to drive three key initiatives:

1. Ghana-Korea Drone Sector Advancement Project – Focusing on regulatory enhancement and safety management capacity building.
2. Ghana-Korea Advanced Drone Application Pilot Training Programme.
3. Ghana-Korea Drone Ecosystem Integration and Innovation Project.
This collaboration is expected to play a pivotal role in transforming Ghana’s drone sector into a regulated, innovative, and economically impactful industry.