Parliament passes Ghana Civil Aviation Bill 2024
The new legislation, known as the Ghana Civil Aviation Bill, of 2024, will replace the current Ghana Civil Aviation Act, 2004 (Act 678), along with its amendments (Act 906 of 2016 and Act 985 of 2019).
The Parliament of Ghana has enacted new legislation to establish the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as an independent body dedicated to maintaining aviation safety and security.
The new legislation, known as the Ghana Civil Aviation Bill, of 2024, will replace the current Ghana Civil Aviation Act, 2004 (Act 678), along with its amendments (Act 906 of 2016 and Act 985 of 2019).
Once the President signs it into law, this bill will provide a legal framework for the GCAA to offer air navigation services within the Accra Flight Information Region until the Ghana Air Navigation Services Agency is created.
This bill also introduces enhanced safety and security regulations, clarifying and streamlining the GCAA's roles. It further grants the Director-General authority to protect sensitive information, such as advanced passenger data and passenger name records.
The new legislation will prohibit aircraft from flying over restricted areas, including military zones and critical infrastructure, to ensure national security and public safety while banning dangerous flying behaviors, such as reckless actions that endanger passengers, crew, or people on the ground.
The bill includes new provisions aligned with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (PFMA) Act 921, which were not present in the previous Act 678. These provisions introduce enhanced governance measures, requiring board members to disclose interests and outlining their duties and liabilities.
To ensure competent leadership, the bill mandates that to be qualified, the Director-General of the authority must have at least 10 years of experience in aviation matters.
