Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing (L) with John M.K. Wumborti (Right)
In a bid to deepen stakeholder engagement and strengthen Ghana’s aviation safety and emergency response framework, the Acting Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB), John M.K. Wumborti, paid a working visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, at the Naval Headquarters in Accra.
Commissioner Wumborti said the visit formed part of his strategic outreach to key stakeholders in Ghana’s aviation and security space.
“The Ghana Navy remains a critical partner in aviation safety, especially in the area of search and rescue operations that occur in maritime zones under Ghanaian jurisdiction,” he noted.
Giving a detailed brief on the functions of the AIB, the Technical Adviser to the Acting Commissioner, Alhaji Saani Adams, emphasised the global nature of civil aviation and its interconnected risks.
“Aircraft transportation is the most international means of travel. Aviation space is a multistate environment where everything that happens to an aircraft often involves many nations,” he said.
Alhaji Adams explained that under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Ghana, through the AIB, is obligated to investigate civil aircraft accidents and incidents within the Accra Flight Information Region (FIR).
“This responsibility is not just a national mandate but an international duty guided by ICAO protocols,” he said, further adding that Act 1028, which established the AIB, empowers the Bureau to act independently and professionally in fulfilling these functions.
“The competence and capacity of the AIB to carry out its work is critical. It’s one of the key indicators used globally to assess a country’s aviation safety performance,” Alhaji Adams added.
“Though we are a young institution, we are held to international standards, and there is no room for excuses.”
He reiterated the vital role of stakeholders, including the Ghana Navy, in enhancing investigations and emergency response.
“An aircraft occurrence over the sea means the Navy becomes our frontline partner, particularly in search and rescue and securing the crash site,” he said.
Rear Admiral Bessing expressed his appreciation for the visit, calling it both enlightening and timely. He pledged the Navy’s commitment to mutual cooperation with the AIB.
“We welcome this partnership and suggest establishing a standing committee to streamline coordination in the event of any aviation-related maritime incidents,” he proposed.
The Admiral also highlighted existing Maritime Operation Centres situated along Ghana’s coastline and indicated that while their current mandate extends only to Ghana’s territorial waters, efforts are underway to expand surveillance capabilities to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) through the use of advanced technologies.
The Deputy Director of Intelligence at the Ghana Navy, Commander Michael Asiamah, called for stronger integration between the Navy and the AIB.
“We recommend including AIB personnel in some of our simulation exercises, especially those involving emergency response scenarios. This will prepare both institutions for seamless collaboration in real-life events,” he said.
As Ghana continues to build a resilient aviation safety ecosystem, the synergy between the AIB and the Ghana Navy is poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring swift, coordinated responses to aviation emergencies across both land and sea.
ID/MA