President John Dramani Mahama on Monday commissioned the new Air Navigation Services (ANS) Building at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra.
He also launched Ghana’s Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) Systems, which are housed within the new building.
The facility is expected to serve as the central operational hub for delivering critical air navigation functions, ensuring the safe, orderly, and efficient movement of aircraft in both controlled airspace and at aerodromes.
This state-of-the-art infrastructure will support a full suite of aviation services, including Air Traffic Services (ATS), Air Traffic Management (ATM), Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS), Aeronautical Information Services/Aeronautical Information Management (AIS/AIM), and Meteorological Services for Air Navigation (MET).
The ANS building will also house the Multi-Agency Command Centre (MACC) — a national collaborative operations hub comprising key stakeholders such as INTERPOL, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Ghana Police Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana National Fire Service, and other relevant international partners.
In his keynote address, President Mahama said the event marked another milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen Ghana’s aviation sector and project the country as a regional hub for safe, secure, and modern air transport services.
“This is not merely the unveiling of an infrastructural project. It manifests our commitment to transforming our aviation sector through strategic investments, digital innovation, and global best practices,” he stated.
He added, “It represents our resolve to build a 21st-century aviation ecosystem anchored on safety, efficiency, interagency collaboration, and service excellence. As many know, Ghana has maintained a strong reputation for aviation safety and airspace security in the West African subregion.”
President Mahama noted that this reputation was not accidental but the result of deliberate investment in regulation, training of personnel, infrastructure, and the diligence of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and air navigation professionals. He said the commissioning of the ANS building further consolidates these efforts.
He described the new facility as the nerve centre for Ghana’s airspace management and emphasized that it is fully equipped with modern air traffic services and management systems, communication, navigation, and surveillance infrastructure, aeronautical information services, and meteorological systems.
The President noted that with this infrastructure, Ghanaian aviation professionals, particularly air traffic controllers and system engineers, would now operate in a technologically advanced environment, enhancing air safety, reducing delays, and improving coordination within the aircraft flight information region.
He emphasized that, more critically, the facility underpins the broader national vision to position Ghana as the aviation hub of West Africa.
“For that to happen, we must not only build terminals and runways, but we must also invest meaningfully in the invisible backbone of air travel — and that is air navigation and safety oversight,” he said.
President Mahama further highlighted that beyond the physical infrastructure, the launch of the API and PNR Systems marked a significant technological and strategic advancement.
He said the systems placed Ghana among a growing list of countries complying with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2178 and Annex 9 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), both of which aim to enhance border security, counterterrorism efforts, and the safe movement of people across borders.
“The importance of these systems cannot be overstated. They will enable our security agencies to collect and process passenger data in real time, identify potential threats before arrival or departure, streamline immigration and customs procedures, and enhance the overall efficiency and security of air travel,” he said.
“This means that Ghana is not just ensuring the safety of its skies. We are contributing to the regional and global security architecture in an age where threats transcend our borders and information is our first line of defense,” the President added.
Transport Minister, Mr. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, said the commissioning of the ANS Building and the launch of the API and PNR Systems were clear demonstrations of the government’s commitment to maintaining high safety and security standards in Ghana’s airspace.
“Aviation safety and security are crucial elements of the air transport industry. Effective safety and security measures are essential for maintaining public trust,” he noted.
Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur, Acting Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, expressed gratitude to the President for appointing him to lead the authority. He reiterated his commitment to advancing the President’s vision of resetting and transforming Ghana’s aviation sector into a resilient, secure, and future-ready industry.
Mr. Francis Bullen Gavor, CEO of Rock Africa, noted that the API/PNR Command Centre is a national security infrastructure designed to enhance pre-arrival intelligence, inter-agency collaboration, and strategic decision-making.
He said the system replaces outdated, paper-based manifest processes with real-time, structured, and secure data access.
Source: GNA
