Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Minister of Transport, says the Government will introduce advanced security technologies and equipment at the airports to enhance safety, security and passenger facilitation.
He said the move would enable Ghana to stay ahead of emerging security threats, while maintaining the highest international safety and security standards.
Mr Nikpe was speaking at the launch of the Aviation Security Culture Week, organised by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) on the theme: “Promoting a Strong and Dynamic Security Culture.”
“Looking ahead, we are committed to introducing advanced security technologies and equipment that will enhance both security and facilitation at our airports,” the Minister stated.
The event brought together aviation security experts, industry players and key stakeholders.
The week-long event, which runs from Monday, February 9 to Friday, February 13, is the first of its kind in Ghana’s aviation industry.
Activities lined up for the week include security culture awareness training for aviation security personnel and service providers, stakeholder engagements, passenger interactions, quiz competitions and awards.
The Minister urged all stakeholders to strengthen the country’s aviation security framework.
“Let us all join hands to strengthen our security culture and make Ghana a leading example in aviation safety and security. See it, Say it, Secure it,” he said.
Mr Nikpe explained that although the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) declared 2019 as the Year of Security Culture, the initiative was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said ICAO and other nations had since resumed the programme, making it imperative for Ghana, as a signatory to the Chicago Convention, to fully participate.
The Minister said aviation security threats, including terrorism and unlawful interference, had far-reaching consequences for nations, airlines, airports, manufacturers, regulators and communities.
He cited historic incidents such as aircraft hijackings, particularly, the first recorded hijacking incident of 1931 in Peru, the “shoe bomber” attempt and the September 11 attacks, highlighting the evolving nature of these threats and the need for proactive security measures.
Mr Nikpe commended aviation security personnel and stakeholders for their dedication, adding that aviation security remained a shared responsibility among airport operators, regulators, security agencies, service providers and the travelling public.
Mrs Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, Managing Director of GACL, said the Aviation Security Culture Week aligned Ghana’s aviation industry with ICAO’s global security initiatives.
She said security culture was about embedding security into daily operations until it became second nature.
“At GACL, we describe this philosophy as ‘Breathe Security, Eat Security, Drink Security, Sleep Security’ (BEDS). This is not merely a slogan – it is a way of life that every worker within Ghana’s air transport ecosystem must consciously embrace,” she said.
Mrs Opare noted that threats to aviation had become more complex, involving improvised weapons, advanced technologies and sophisticated concealment methods, demanding heightened vigilance and innovation.
She reaffirmed management’s commitment to fully implementing the Security Culture Programme across all airports, adding that Ghana’s airports were national assets that must be protected at all times.
She also commended the Aviation Security Department for Ghana’s excellent performance during the ICAO Aviation Security Audit conducted in February 2024.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur, Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), described the development and preservation of a strong security culture as a global aviation security priority under ICAO’s Global Aviation Security Programme.
He said although Ghana initiated activities following ICAO’s relaunch of the Year of Security Culture in 2021, implementation had been limited, making GACL’s initiative timely and commendable.
Rev. Arthur said aviation, while a catalyst for socio-economic development and the safest, most convenient and fastest means of travel globally, remained a prime target for terrorism.
He called for collective responsibility and cooperation among state actors, industry operators, stakeholders and the public to sustain an effective security culture.
The Director-General expressed confidence that the week-long programme would enhance public awareness, strengthen security consciousness, suppress insider threats and prevent unlawful interference within the aviation sector.
GNA
