BY ANTHONY OMOH
The Commissioner of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh, has made a renewed appeal to member states to urgently settle their 2025 dues. He warned that continued delays in contributions are putting pressure on the agency’s ability to carry out its regional investigative mandate.
This call was issued during the 12th Commission Meeting of BAGAIA, held recently in Nigeria, where delegates gathered to assess progress and address emerging operational challenges. A major concern was the rising financial burden caused by outstanding arrears and stalled contributions.
During the meeting, Erhueh called for an immediate focus on current-year subscriptions payment, noting that while economic hardship is acknowledged, the agency cannot function on sympathy alone. “Let us focus on paying the current year,” he said. “Today is July; half the year is gone. What are we doing to pay in 2025?”
His remarks came amid discussions where some member states sought waivers for debts, including amounts dating back to 2022. The Commissioner, however, warned that continuous delays and repeated forgiveness, without an alternative funding model, would damage the agency’s operations. “If we continue to entertain these waivers without a concrete funding mechanism in place, we risk crippling our operations completely,” he cautioned.
Erhueh highlighted that many states still owe their dues, leaving BAGAIA to function on a minimal budget. Critical areas such as investigator deployment, regional collaboration, and training have suffered setbacks. While the agency has managed to meet basic operational needs—like website upkeep—he stressed that the remaining balance is insufficient. “We have activities planned for this year, including in Guinea, but without funds, how do we function as an agency?” he asked.
Delays in subscription payments are also tied to national policy bottlenecks. “Some states don’t allow their civil aviation authorities to pay subscriptions directly—it has to go through their ministries of finance,” Erhueh explained. “These bureaucratic hurdles are part of the problem, but they cannot be the excuse for perpetual delay.”
Further discussions examined deeper reasons behind delayed payments. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Instituto de Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes Aeronáuticos e Marítimos (IPIAAM) Jorge Manuel Rodrigues pointed to the impact of high subscription fees. Referring to an earlier committee review, the delegate said, “Maybe some countries don’t pay because the rates are too high. If the subscription was adjusted to reflect a country’s capacity, maybe we wouldn’t see these kinds of arrears.”
Acting Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau, Ghana, Mr. John Mmeb Kunyan Wumborti reinforced this, describing the payment structure as unfair. “The rate for Ghana is almost triple what others pay over three years. It’s not funny—it’s ridiculous,” the representative stated. “If we say no country should be left behind, then we must also find a way to make the subscriptions more realistic.”
However, calls for blanket waivers were opposed by several member states. Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, Liberia, Captain Moses Weefur expressed concern about the financial integrity of the agency. “If we begin waiving subscriptions without a sustainable alternative in place, who pays for training, for staffing, for investigations?” they asked. “We must be careful not to jeopardise the very institution we are trying to protect.”
In a bid to solve the long-term funding issue, the commission revisited a proposal for a passenger levy on airline tickets. This would be piloted between 2026 and 2030 and could replace the subscription model if proven effective. Nonetheless, Erhueh reminded participants that current obligations must be met. “That’s a long-term solution,” he said. “For now, we need to deal with the reality on the ground. We cannot wait for 2026 while the agency bleeds.”
By the close of the meeting, there was broad agreement that each state must first settle its current-year subscriptions payment, regardless of wider funding reforms. Doing so, they noted, would restore financial stability and allow space for meaningful policy shifts.
Summing up the way forward, Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, Mr. Olubunmi Wellington said, “Start with the present. Pay 2025. Then we can talk about the rest. Otherwise, we’ll keep going in circles.”
In his closing remarks, Erhueh reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to delivering on its mandate. “BAGAIA was not created to be a symbolic agency,” he said. “We are here to support accident investigation across the region. That responsibility comes with financial obligations. Let’s not fail ourselves.”
As BAGAIA plans for future investigations and regional missions, its ability to operate effectively now depends on whether member states back their commitments with timely payments.
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I am still cracking my head on what BAGAIA has meant and achieved all these years?