Sunyani Airport Cries For Female Security Officer

The Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Mr. Opoku Agyapong has appealed to the Authorities to post a female security officer to the Sunyani Airport to effectively screen female passengers who go through the airport. According to the Regional Manager, the Sunyani Airport has no female security officer, therefore female passengers who go through the airport were not screened.

He made this appeal when the Minister for Aviation, Ms. Gloria Affia Akuffo paid a familiarisation visit to the airport and offices of the GCAA in the Regional capital recently. The Acting Director-General of the GCAA, Nii Badu Adumasa and the Chief Director of the Aviation Ministry, Mr.George Scort among others, accompanied the Sector Minister. Mr. Agyapong complained about the rate of encroachment upon the lands bordering the airport and the use of the runway as a highway, describing it as dangerous and unacceptable.

He mentioned lack of fire tenders, screening equipment like metal detectors and x-ray examiner as major constraints and challenges confronting the management of the airport. The Regional Manager said efforts were being made to beautify the Sunyani airport and make it more attractive, as plans were underway to establish a car rental facility and restaurant for the benefit of patrons of the airport. He however stressed the need for structural rehabilitation of the airport building and the refurbishment of the VIP lounge as well as provision of fence around the airport to secure and check the haphazard movements of people and cattle around the place.

Ms. Akuffo expressed concern about the encroachment on lands belonging to the GCAA in Sunyani and assured that Government was developing a comprehensive and sustainable policy to promote the growth and development of the aviation sector in the country. The Sector Minister said the policy was aimed at developing infrastructure at strategic locations in order to position the country as an aviation hub in the West African sub-region. She however appealed to the Regional Co-ordinating Council, the Municipal Assembly and the Omanhene of Sunyani and its surrounding towns, to institute measures to curb the behaviour of the encroachers.

Ms. Akuffo urged the staff not to be disturbed by the separation of the airport management from the Aviation Ministry, but to remain focus and continue to give of their best in the face of the challenges that confront them in discharge of their duties, saying it would not lead to any redeployment.