BAGAIA stresses import of funding and support as it gears for technical committee meeting

COMMISSIONER, Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh has emphasized the importance of funding with respect to the regional investigators’ capability of carrying out functions such as providing technical and logistic support for the region when there is an incident or accident.

Erhueh made this known during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Transport Ghana,Honorable Kwaku Ofori Asiamah ahead of the technical committee meeting taking place from 8-12 November in Ghana.

According to the BAGAIA commissioner, the regional accident investigative body has a lot of programs and projects to execute in the region as well as needing Personal Protective Equipment and other equipment needed when there is an accident or incident and all these need funding to take care of.

Against this back drop he urged the minister to ensure that Ghana is able to clear their outstanding contributions to BAGAIA and ICAO to make some of these achievable .

He stressed,” With fall out for support and equipment drive in terms of PPE and other equipment the investigation team will definately need when there is an accident and incident. Honorable Minister in other to achieve these, there is need for funding so I would like to seek your indulgence to ensure that Ghana isable to clear their outstanding contributions to BAGAIA and ICAO.

He also called for funding for Ghana’s newly established investigation agency stressing that the major purpose is for safety enhancement.

“Also we look for your further commitment and support for the newly created investigation agency because if there is no commitment, funding and putting all the necessary tools in place for the agency they will not be able to strive in meeting the obligations. You know definitely that this purpose is safety enhancement and compliments most of the things ICAO has identified as open items for Ghana.

Speaking also, Minister of Transport Ghana,Honorable Kwaku Ofori Asiamah sought BAGAIA’s technical support to AIB-Ghana stating that any open item can be closed faster with the regional body’s involvement.

Asiamah said,”I think it is important that we strengthen institutions in our transport sector. Especially issues relating to security and safety, you know in aviation, most of our requirements are based on safety and security so once that we set up institutions to deal with these things, I think we are home and dry

“As you know we have just set up our Accident investigation centre. We are missing one or two issues, I am using this medium to solicit if there’s anything you can do to help us work faster in terms of technical support