By: News Desk
Accra, Ghana – 12 January 2026 – The Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) has delivered a statutory seven‑day notice of industrial action to the management of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), signalling a potential shutdown of critical air‑navigation services across the country.
The notice, dated 5 January 2026, cites Sections 159 and 160 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) and warns that a lawful strike could commence on or after 15 January 2026 unless long‑standing grievances are resolved.
The dispute traces its roots back more than a decade. In 2012, engineers recruited with Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications were placed on junior‑staff grades, contrary to engineering organograms and public‑service norms. The anomaly was corrected in 2013 after intervention by the then Director‑General.
The same misplacement resurfaced in 2014 under the stewardship of the Director of Human Resources, Mr. Ebenezer Sagoe, and was again rectified in 2015. A similar pattern emerged in 2019, prompting another correction in 2022 following a formal complaint by GhATSEA.
Yet, in 2022, newly recruited members holding Bachelor of Science degrees were placed on Salary Level 4 – the lowest senior‑staff grade – and have remained there despite repeated petitions.
Compounding the placement issue are persistent salary distortions. According to the union, there is little or no pay differential between Level 7 and Level 6 employees, while a disproportionately wide gap exists between Level 6 and Level 5. In some cases, Level 5 staff earn more than colleagues on higher grades, a situation that GhATSEA says erodes morale and undermines trust in the GCAA’s human‑resource administration.
The union’s letter, signed by President Engr. David Annan Mensah, accuses GCAA management of “flip‑flopping” on the classification of its members. In 2016, during a National Labour Commission hearing, management labelled the workers “non‑essential” to justify its position. Today, the same management argues they are “essential” to bolster its current stance. “When did we suddenly become essential workers?” the notice asks, describing the inconsistency as a “double standard driven by convenience rather than principle, law, or consistency.”
GhATSEA says it has pursued dialogue, mediation and arbitration in good faith, but to no avail.
The association points to a meeting held on 29 October 2025, after the Board of the GCAA directed that negotiations continue. Although the Board’s directive was followed and industrial action suspended, the subsequent meeting between the GhATSEA Executive Council and management yielded no commitment, proposals or indication of willingness to act.
The union alleges that management’s behaviour mirrors a pattern observed in September 2025, when an urgent intervention prevented a planned strike only for the authority to renege on its assurances once the action was called off.
In its formal notice, GhATSEA outlines three specific demands:
1. Full implementation of the Dr. Imoro Report, which outlines measures to restore industrial harmony and was endorsed by former Transport Minister Hon. Dzifa Attivor and former Acting Director‑General Ing. Simon Allottey, now Board Chairman.
2. Immediate implementation of the Promotional Needs Petition submitted on 16 July 2025.
3. Removal of Director of Human Resources Ebenezer Sagoe, whom the union accuses of repeatedly acting only when compelled by senior officials and of deliberately creating recurring problems that fall to successive Director‑Generals to resolve.
The association warns that failure to meet these demands by 15 January 2026 will leave its members with no choice but to lay down tools. “Unresolved technical and safety personnel issues will affect the integrity of Ghana’s airspace operations,” the notice states. “It is in the interest of national safety, operational efficiency and institutional harmony that these matters are treated with the seriousness they deserve.”
The GCAA, for its part, has not yet issued a formal response to the latest notice. In previous industrial actions, the authority activated contingency plans to maintain essential flight‑information services, but officials have cautioned that prolonged disruption could impact both domestic and international flights, with ripple effects on cargo, tourism and the broader economy.
Industry observers are watching the situation closely. A spokesperson for the Ghana Airports Company Limited said the company is “monitoring developments and stands ready to cooperate with all parties to minimise any adverse impact on passengers and airline operators.” The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also urged restraint, emphasizing the importance of “constructive dialogue to safeguard aviation safety and continuity.”
As the deadline approaches, stakeholders from airlines, airport operators, regulatory bodies and the travelling public await a resolution. The outcome of this labour showdown will not only determine the immediate fate of GhATSEA members but also set a precedent for labour‑management relations within Ghana’s critical aviation sector.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
