Barbados seeks technical assistance in aviation from Ghana

Ghana will soon provide technical assistance to Barbados in the area of aviation, as both countries extend their collaboration.

The two countries are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding in the coming weeks in order to push this agenda.

This was made known when official delegation from the Republic of Barbados led by the Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Mr. Kerrie Symmond, paid a courtesy call on the Aviation Minister, Joseph Kofi Adda.

The technical co-operation and assistance come at a crucial time for Barbados, as it prepares to undergo the Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM), in line with the United Nations Aviation Agency’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

The ICVM will possibly assess Barbados’ safety oversight system on all eight International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Critical Elements (CEs), namely: Primary Aviation Legislation; State Operating Regulations; State Civil Aviation System and Safety Oversight Functions; and Technical Personnel Qualification and Training.

Ghana was chosen as the preferred country for this assistance since the country in 2019 was awarded two International Civil Aviation Organization Council President certificates for maintaining one of the highest aviation safety and security standards Globally at the ICAO 40th assembly in Montreal.

Mr. Symmond said, “with Ghana’s excellence in aviation safety, we need to find some working relationship with Ghana.”

He also noted that Barbados could contract the services of experts in Ghana’s aviation sector.

“Currently, tourism accounts for more than 40 percent of the GDP of the country. But for a country heavily dependent on tourism, we also have to make sure that our airport doesn’t become one for heavily unfavorable comment of international regulators,” Symmond said.