Ghana: Aviation staff threaten to strike Friday Jul 8

Aviation staff threaten Friday strike over encroachment on land

Staff of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) have threatened to suspend domestic flights indefinitely if government does not move to secure a property belonging to the air traffic regulator.

 

The threat to strike by the workers is fueled by encroachment on the air traffic regulator’s lands at La Nkwantanan near Madina in the Greater Accra Region.

 

They say armed land guards have taken control of the land, making it difficult for developers to access the land for installation of a €600,000 (GH¢2,618,695) air traffic equipment.

 

They say if they do not get a favourable response by Friday, July 8, 2016, they will carry out their threat. They say international flight operations are likely to also be affected to press home their demands.

 

This means on Friday domestic airlines across the country would be grounded, which will have a devastating consequence to the air travel industry.

 

“We’ve made several appeals to the Ministry of Transport as well as our management to secure the land for us to install those equipment and it seems it is falling on death ears,” William Amoako, spokesperson for the agitating staff, told Joy News.

 

Mr Amoako told Joy News’ Jennifer Akuamoah he hopes government acts to avert a major disruption on the aviation front.

 

The staff had previously served notice on June 21 of their intended strike over the encroachment, warning that the appropriation of lands reserved for aviation traffic purposes by private developers and politicians risked compromising aviation security and safety in Ghana.

 

Joy News has learnt management of the GCAA, Parliament’s Committee on Roads and Transport as well as the Ministry of Transport are locked in a meeting, Tuesday to find a solution to the workers demands.

http://www.myjoyonline.com/business/2016/July-5th/aviation-staff-threaten-friday-strike-over-encroachment-on-land.php