Abena Dapaah being briefed on the status of the VOR Station by officials of GCA
Encroachment on lands designated for the Kotoka International Airport (KIA)’s Air Navigation Station at East Legon, a suburb of Accra, could pose a threat to the safety of passengers traveling from Accra to various destinations once they are airborne.
This came to light when the Minister of Aviation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, officials of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the media yesterday visited the KIA’s Very High Frequency Omni Directional Radio Range (VOR) Station.
Director-General of GCAA, Simon Molai Allotey, noted that high-rise buildings pose a threat to air passengers.
“It has the potential to interfere with the signals, in order words, instead of the equipment giving the pilot the correct bearing, because of the distortion it may take it off the runway or if it is overflying, it may take it off course so there is a safety risk there,” he said.
The public, he said, must adhere to the current regulations on the development of projects around air navigation facilities in the country.
Demolition
The Minister, who was unhappy with the construction of high-rise buildings close to the VOR Station, said steps would be taken to immediately demolish such structures.
“We wish the encroachers will understand and move to the allowed distance,” she said whilst answering questions from journalists as to whether owners of the said structures would be compensated once these were pulled down.
Technically, property developers are supposed to construct buildings at least 1,000 feet away from an air navigation facility but in the case of KIA’s VOR Station, the buildings are close to the fence wall of the station.
It is unclear who granted the ‘unknown’ developers permits to put up such structures within the area.
She told management of GCAA that “if we sit down for people to put up high-rise buildings, we will not be shooting ourselves in the foot but in the head.”
“We should make sure that the 150 clear zone distance is observed,” she said.
The Minister called for collaboration between the GCAA, Ministry, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Lands Commission to stop the construction of buildings near VORs across the country.
By Melvin Tarlue