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President John Dramani Mahama yesterday commissioned an Air Navigation Service (ANS) system at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra to serve as key operational hub for the provision of essential air navigation services for the nation and parts of West Africa.
The new ANS facility is expected to be decoupled from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in future to ensure safe, orderly and efficient movement of aircraft in both controlled airspaces and at aerodromes.
The ANS would also offer a full suite of aviation services, including air traffic services (ATS), air traffic management (ATM), communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS), aeronautical information services/aeronautical information management and meteorological services for air navigation (MET).
These systems operate within a synchronised framework to manage the flow of air traffic, prevent collisions, maintain separation, and enhance operational efficiency.
It would also support air-to-ground and ground-to-air communications, monitor aircraft movements and facilitate the dissemination of critical aeronautical data, flight plans, aeronautical charts and meteorological updates necessary for flight planning and in-flight decision making .
The facility will host the passenger information unit (PIU), responsible for the implementation and operational management of advanced passenger information (API) and passenger name record (PNR) system
The President directed three ministries – Transport, Foreign Affairs and the Interior to collaborate and expedite action for the introduction of electronic visa services in the country.
"The introduction of the API and PNR systems will provide a strong digital platform on which other critical services can be integrated.
“That is why I am calling for collaboration to ensure that this platform is expanded to enable us to quickly implement the long-awaited e-visa services for the country.
"I am charging them to extend this system to cover both the sea and land border posts, integration with our e-gate systems, and the adoption of the capabilities to extend to the advanced cargo information system also for the benefit of our customs," he said.
President Mahama said the e-visa system would ease visa application processes, reduce paperwork and bureaucracy, support tourism and make the country an even more attractive destination for business.
"The future of travel is digital, and Ghana must not be left behind. We must think beyond the Kotoka International Airport and edge in steps to integrate these systems at Terminal 2, new Kumasi International Airport, and also Tamale International Airport.
The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, said GCAA was a regulatory agency for air transport in the country and also provided air navigation services within the Accra Flight Information Region.
"In a modern and safe aviation ecosystem, clear separation of rules is essential to ensure accountability and efficiency.
One critical area is the separation of the air navigation services and the regulatory functions of the Civil Aviation Authority.
“However, this is not the case in Ghana. And that was why the President's vision for 2012 had brought us this far.
"In line with international best practises, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority established the Air Navigation Services Agency through Act 2020, Act 1051," he said.
He said the purpose was to put an end to the current situation where the regulator also served as a service provider, and also ensure high safety standards.
The acting Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, said the facility was among the most technologically advanced in the aviation industry in the world, and it symbolised the nation’s bold ambition to lead in air navigation safety, innovation, and regional connectivity.
In terms of scale and sophistication, he said it was second only to a similar facility in South Africa, marking a significant milestone in West Africa’s aviation infrastructure.
"More importantly, the edifice will serve as the operational nerve centre for our national airspace, supporting the 24-hour economy and ensuring that every aircraft in our skies is guided with precision and care by our highly trained and dedicated team of professionals," Rev. Arthur added.
