The deadline for the Abuja declaration by African Ministers of Civil Aviation has been extended to 2022.
This was after the 2015 deadline of setting aviation safety standards and targets for Africa was missed.
Ghana’s Aviation Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda revealed this at the 22nd meeting of the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) planning and implementation regional group and the fifth meeting of the AFI regional aviation safety group in Accra.
The Minister while delivering his keynote address said although the Abuja declaration of 2012 missed its 2015 target plan, the new target deadline of 2022 will be realized together with funding to support having being approved under the ICAO Comprehensive regional implementation plan for aviation safety in Africa, known as the AFI plan.
“I wish to remind you that in line with the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASeP), the Abuja Declaration of 2012 by African Ministers of Civil Aviation adopted a set of aviation safety targets for Africa, also known as the Abuja Safety Targets. The deadline has now been revised to 2022” he said.
On his part, the Director General at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Engineer Simon Allotey said the move will enhance aviation safety performance through collaboration and integration while improving capacity and efficiency in terms of international civil aviation safety.
“ICAO has recognized the growing importance of the two and the link between them in that air navigation also greatly contribute to aviation safety.” he observed.
Meanwhile the Chairman of the group Levers Mabaso urged the government to invest in aviation as it has the potential to reap huge benefits for the Ghana’s economy.