Parliament treats Air Navigation Services Agency Bill, 2020
29-10-2020The Air Navigation Services Agency Bill, 2020 is at the Consideration Stage in Parlaiment.
The objectives of the Bill are to establish the Air Navigation Services Agency to provide air navigation service within the airspace of Ghana and any other airspace within the control of Ghana.
The establishment of the Agency will ensure Ghana’s compliance with International regulations, the avoidance of compromises in operations, improve decision-making and prevent the publication of the flight information region as unsafe.
It will also, not only enhance the air navigation service delivery within the Accra Flight Information Region but will also build capacity for consultancy within the sub-region
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The chairman for the Committee on Roads and Transport, Hon. Samuel Ayeh-Pay requested to the House to adopt the report and to pass the Air Navigation Services Agency Bill, 2020 under certificate of urgency in accordance with article 106(13) of the 199 Constitution and Order 119 of the Standing Orders of the House.
Speaker Oquaye referred the Bill to the Committee to decide whether the Bill should treated under a certificate of urgency.
Speaking on the floor of the House, the chairman of the committee said “The Committee noted that air transport is one of the important modes of transport worldwide; the industry generates huge sum of revenue for the country which aids in national development".
The Committee Chairman noted that the achievements in the industry are attained by existing strong institutions with the capacity to deliver world class standards and the consistency of this competence must be solidified by continuous auditing and revision of systems, structures and institutions in line with contemporary expectations and international obligations.
He said Ghana has experienced its fair share of air traffic volumes in freight and passenger cargoes; an autonomous institution (Air Navigation Services) would provide not only air navigation safety but support holistic drive of promoting the national image of Ghana in the global airspace.
"This has hastened calls for the decoupling and the strengthening of infrastructure and its inherent institutions to meet both national and international obligations and best practices" Hon. Ayeh-Paye indicated.
He said though the country has an administrative Air Navigation structure under the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority for the conduct of air navigation, it is not functionally independent and does not meet all the standards of ICAO recommended practices.
"The Committee took cognisance of the impending ICAO Audit Review which is due to be conducted early in 2021 and which requires the Act to be in place for Ghana to fully meet the criteria for safety and security standards in Aviation industry".
The Committee Chairman, indicated that Parliamentary calendar at the moment does not lend to a timely passage of the Bill which is so critical for Air Navigation best practices in the country: further the exigency of the electoral timetable and meeting the ICAO audit necessitate this bill to be taken under a certificate of urgency.
