Parliament has approved the Ghana Civil Aviation Bill 2024, aimed at reforming and consolidating existing civil aviation laws to enhance the safety and security of the aviation sector.

This significant legislative development grants new powers to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), allowing for more robust regulation and oversight of the industry.

The newly passed Bill will repeal the Ghana Civil Aviation Act, 2004 (Act 678), aligning the nation's aviation laws with its international obligations as a member of both the United Nations and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The parliamentary committee that reviewed the Bill highlighted the necessity for this legislative overhaul. Existing civil aviation regulations were found to be fragmented across various laws, international protocols, treaties, and agreements, creating administrative challenges.

The committee pointed out several deficiencies in Act 678, including the lack of adequate provisions for the applicable rules of air over the high seas and the absence of a state safety program in line with Annex 19 of the Chicago Convention.