The Deputy Minister for Aviation, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has indicated that the Air Navigation Services (ANS) Centre, which is currently under construction at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra is 45 percent complete, and should be fully completed in 2019.
The Air Navigation Service Centre when completed will deliver air traffic management; communications, navigation and surveillance systems; meteorological service for air navigation; and aeronautical information services, among others.
In an interview with Goldstreet Business, the Deputy Minister said, when completed, this would help host the ANS, when the decoupling of Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is done.
Darko-Mensah noted that, “with the decoupling, we are done with the internal work,” adding, he said “we are looking at getting an external auditor to validate what has taken place.”
The external auditor would ensure the separation of assets and staffs, among others.
“So, once we are expecting that next year, when completed, the decision to decouple would also be taken,” He said.
The facility when completed, would provide an air – ground and ground- ground communications, search and rescue, aeronautical message handling system and traffic management coordination, among others.
Sources at the GCAA also indicate that the decoupling of the regulator will happen by the end of 2019, which is in line with recommended international best practices.
It is expected that this facility will also have six air traffic control positions which will allow for operations, supervisory and emergency rescue control centre.
Other infrastructure developments, which in a long-run would enhance the government’s plans of making the country an aviation hub includes; an airport business centre at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Aerotropolis at Ankasse (26,000-acre land) and Ningo-Prampram(62,000-acre land).
By Joshua W. Amlanu