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Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) staff have resolved to embark on strike action on Wednesday October 14, 2020 as part of measures to impress the administration and the state to protect aviation lands in Ghana that they are said to be being sold privately. developers.
They claim that their action is purely a company-based action, that is, a local action that they do not need to report to the National Labor Commission (NLC).
If the planned action is allowed to continue, it would affect only domestic flights.
Personnel control the airspace in Ghana and therefore some of the services that will be affected include navigation signaling the landing and take-off of flights.
According to staff, the land grab by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority started a few years ago and all efforts to stop it have been unsuccessful.
They feel that their concerns have not been adequately addressed and are trying to draw attention to the authorities to address the issue.
Since then, a notice has been sent to all operators about the planned strike, but the workers still hope to solve the problem before Wednesday, October 14, 2020 so that they do not have to go ahead with the strike.
The notice was jointly signed by and on behalf of the GCAA Workers’ Coalition by its spokespersons William Amoako and John Sampah.
According to GCAA staff, “you can take action to withdraw some essential services, including air traffic services, beginning on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, to demand the return of the lands seized from the Authority.”
The staff pointed out that the strike action has become necessary “after exhausting all relevant avenues, including meetings and discussions with the executive management of GCAA and the Ministry of Aviation, interventions by the National Labor Commission and the Ministry of National Security. , a letter to the Chief of Staff, a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and a recent press conference ”.
The statement further noted: “The reallocation or sale of land intended strictly for aviation purposes to private developers poses serious security concerns for the aviation industry. You will recall that some of your flights have experienced occasional interruptions in communication with air traffic control due to constant interference and strong background noise on some of our frequencies since October 2, 2020. “
The staff went on to say that they have “reason to believe that these challenges are due to the activities of real estate developers around our communication systems, navigational aids, and surveillance systems on GCAA lands,” as These developments have made it nearly impossible for the GCAA to “provide quality air traffic and air navigation services.”
Therefore, GCAA staff are demanding that the government stop “the threat and damage to vital communication, navigation and surveillance equipment and facilities, the senseless demarcation and sale of GCAA land to private individuals” and “The forced eviction of GCAA staff from their officially assigned bungalows.”
Why the protest
Last week, staff embarked on a similar protest to express their disgust at the usurpation of land belonging to the Authority.
According to GCAA staff, the aviation sector in Ghana is at risk of shutting down if steps are not taken to protect its land.
A statement issued by GCAA staff leaders noted, “The aviation industry is dynamic and technology-driven.”
“This means that new technologies may emerge, requiring a terrain for their implementation.
“Therefore, some parcels of land must be reserved for these purposes.
“The unavailability of land for these facilities will mean that there is no future for aviation in Ghana,” they warned.
The statement continued: “It should be noted that, as the GCAA Coalition of Trade Unions and Professionals, we do not recognize prior aviation land negotiations and agreements entered into and deemed null and void, as key stakeholders were not involved. . “
The staff also noted: “To prevent future usurpations and raids, we kindly request that the titles of these lands be duly regularized in the name of the Authority by assigning an Officer from the Ministry of National Security to help in this regard.”
Regarding the La Wireless land, the staff indicated that the property is “housing our transmitters and other ancillary facilities, the engineering training school, the Office of the Independent Accident Investigation Bureau, the personnel bungalows for technical personnel who works in these facilities and the Directors’ bungalows. “
He also warned that: “Togo, Benin and Lagos are still monitoring our team to justify a takeover of Ghana’s airspace,” noting that one of those encroachment incidents involving the construction of the AU village has caused the GCAA faces certain challenges. with your team.
“In the field of La Wireless, it is surprising to hear that our technical staff, who on rare occasions are asked to attend to failures in this equipment, have been asked to vacate their facilities and move to places far from these facilities.
“Who will attend to failures when they occur and what will be the response time?
“Ironically, as our staff are being asked to leave the site, steps are being taken to build private homes,” staff complained.
They have therefore called on the government to “step in and stop the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Land Commission from overseeing the exchange of aviation land so that the government’s vision and policy on aviation can be achieved. “.
Source: Graphiconline.com
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