The Kotoka International Airport could be closed down anytime soon. This is because the Ghana Meteorological Agency (G-MET) cannot sustain its operations due to non-payment for services rendered to it.
This could also lead to possible downgrading and the likely close-down of other satellite airports in the country if the Meteorological Agency carries through its threat.
This comes after several warnings to authorities at the airport.
The Ghana Airport Company Limited(GACL) has failed to settle its indebtedness of over $2 million it owed the agency since 2008, for services rendered.
Mr. Mr Amos Narh, Deputy Officer in-Charge at the Meteorological Services Department-Kotoka International Airport has lamented that, despite the fact that GACL charges airline operators air navigational charges- which include services provided by G-MET- the GACL is adamant to pay them.
According to Group Captain Stephen Komla(rtd,)the Director-General of G-MET, every airport in Ghana was supposed to have five weather forecasters, but because of lack of funds to train personnel, the Kumasi, Takoradi, Sunyani and Tamale airports have no forecasters to man these areas.
He described the situation as “quite worrying and unfortunate”.
The agency presently needed about $200,000 to train forecasters to meet international requirements. “We have not been able to meet the Quality Management System Standard due to financial constraints,” he lamented.
Faced with a rising profile of non-payment of services by GACL, the Agency has signalled that it may withdraw its services to force the issue.
Source: Edwin Appiah/JFM
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