Ghana has taken a decisive step to strengthen aviation safety and protect its airports as strategic national assets with the launch of the maiden Aviation Security Culture Week by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) on Monday, February 9, 2026.
The week long initiative, themed Promoting a Strong and Dynamic Security Culture, was launched at The Palms by Eagles in Airport City, Accra, and aligns Ghana’s aviation security framework with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of GACL, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, said the initiative goes beyond compliance to embed security into the everyday conduct of all players within the aviation ecosystem. At its core, security culture is about embedding security into our daily processes, procedures and practices until it becomes second nature, she said.
Opare explained that GACL has adopted the guiding philosophy Breathe Security, Eat Security, Drink Security, Sleep Security (BEDS), describing it as a way of life rather than a slogan. She stressed that aviation security cannot be left to security officers alone, pointing to the programme’s tagline See it, Say it, Secure it as a reminder that vigilance is the responsibility of everyone working in and around Ghana’s airports.
She assured staff, stakeholders and partners that GACL management remains fully committed to championing the Security Culture Programme across all airports under its management. The GACL Managing Director warned that the aviation security landscape is becoming increasingly complex, with threats ranging from improvised weapons and explosives to sophisticated concealment and manipulation techniques aided by technology.
These realities demand heightened vigilance, continuous innovation and collective responsibility. We cannot afford complacency, she said. According to Opare, protecting Ghana’s airports is critical to achieving GACL’s broader vision of positioning the country as the preferred aviation hub and leading airport business in West Africa.
Opare commended the Aviation Security Department for Ghana’s strong showing during the ICAO Aviation Security Audit in February 2024, describing the outcome as evidence of professionalism and commitment within the sector. Our airports are national assets and must be protected at all times against acts of terrorism and unlawful interference, she added.
In his address, Minister for Transport Joseph Bukari Nikpe described the Aviation Security Week as the first of its kind in Ghana and a timely intervention at a period of heightened global security risks. As a signatory to the Chicago Convention, Ghana cannot afford to fall behind, the Minister said, noting that the post COVID revival of ICAO’s security culture programme underscores the urgency of strengthening aviation security systems worldwide.
Nikpe traced the evolution of aviation security threats from the first recorded hijacking in 1931 in Peru to more recent incidents such as the September 11 attacks, where aircraft were used as weapons. He said the consequences of such attacks extend beyond airlines and airports, affecting regulators, manufacturers, border agencies and national economies.
Nations with active aviation sectors are often the hardest hit, he noted. The Transport Minister stressed that the success of the security culture initiative depends on collective action by airport operators, regulators, security agencies, service providers and the travelling public.
This is why the slogan See it, Say it, Secure it is so powerful. Aviation security is a shared responsibility, he said. Looking ahead, Nikpe disclosed government plans to introduce advanced security technologies and equipment at Ghana’s airports to improve both safety and passenger facilitation, ensuring the country stays ahead of emerging threats.
The minister officially declared the Aviation Security Week and the launch of GACL’s Security Culture Programme open, urging stakeholders to fully participate in the week’s activities and commit to building a resilient aviation security culture. Together, we can make Ghana a leading example in aviation safety and security, he said.
Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Eric Agyen Frimpong described the aviation industry as a high risk environment that required continuous vigilance, innovation and collaboration to stay ahead of evolving threats. He noted that a strong and dynamic security culture was central to effective aviation security, adding that security must be seen as everyone’s responsibility within the airport ecosystem.
Threats do not announce themselves, nor do they follow predictable paths. For this reason, every individual within the airport ecosystem and its environments must recognize that we are all potential targets, and hence we should be critical defenders of our shared stakes, he said.
Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur, 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 that 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.
The week long event, which runs from Monday, February 9, to Friday, February 13, includes security culture awareness training for aviation security personnel and service providers, stakeholder engagements, passenger interactions, quiz competitions, and awards.
In 2019, ICAO declared that year as the Year of Security Culture, but the campaign was temporarily suspended following the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic. ICAO and several countries have since resumed their security culture programmes, recognizing the urgent need to prioritize aviation security globally.
