2. Section 3 of Act 678 amended
The principal enactment is amended in section 3 by the deletion of subsection (1) and the insertion of “(1) The Authority is responsible
(a) generally for the following:
(i) administering and giving effect to this Act;
(ii) advising the Government on matters relating to civil aviation;
(iii) ensuring due compliance with the Conventions, Annexes, Protocols, Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation;
(iv) carrying out any other treaty or agreement in the field of civil aviation to which Ghana is a party;
(v) developing guidelines and guidance for the implementation of a safety management system that requires operators and stakeholders in the aviation sector to incorporate safety management systems in their operational activities;
(vi) entering into agreements for co-operative endeavours in the field of civil aviation, aviation safety and security with other international and regional contracting States;
(vii) establishing a safety programme to achieve an acceptable level of safety in the operation of aircrafts, aerodromes, air traffic control and aircraft maintenance; and
(viii) the enforcement of the requirements contained in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme;
(b) for the regulation of air navigation services including
(i) promoting and developing safety in civil aviation and ensuring safety of air navigation and aircraft;
( ii) regulating, promoting, developing and supervising air transport operations and services;
(iii) the licensing and certification of the provision of accommodation in aircrafts;
(iv) collaborating in securing to the highest degree practicable uniformity in regulations, standards and procedures in relation to aircraft, personnel, airways and auxiliary services in order to facilitate and improve air navigation by adopting and amending where practicable, the Standards and Recommended Practices and Technical Guidelines issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation to contracting States;
(v) acting internationally as the national Authority or body representing the Republic in respect of matters relating to civil aviation;
(vi) entering into mutual agreements in the event of a lease, charter or interchange of an aircraft for the transfer of all or part of the safety oversight responsibilities in respect of the aircraft to ensure continuous surveillance of the registered aircraft to the State of the operator;
(vii) licensing of cockpit and cabin crew, flight and ground engineers, air traffic controllers, air traffic safety and electronic personnel as well as other personnel engaged in aircraft operations and allied aviation services;
(viii) prescribing measures to ensure the continuous airworthiness of aircrafts;
(ix) registering and de-registering of aircrafts;
(x) registering and de-registering interests in an aircraft or a part of an aircraft including the recognition of the validity of a certificate of licence of a foreign registered aircraft;
(xi) taking measures for the prevention and investigation of aircraft incident and accident;
(xii) ensuring that international units of measurements and aeronautical charts are used in air and ground operations;
(xiii) providing a coordinated search and rescue service within the Accra Flight Information Region and other aerodromes;
(xiv) recognizing certificates of airworthiness, certificates of competency, radio licences and other licences issued by other contracting States;
(xv) supervising the operations of an aircraft; and
(xvi) environmental protection for aircraft noise and engine emissions;
(c) for the provision of air navigation services including
(i) providing air navigation services within the Accra Flight Information Region;
(ii) communicating meteorological information in accordance with the relevant Annexes, Standards and Recommended Practices, Regional Supplementary and any other documents applicable to international air navigation; and
(iii) providing the necessary facilities and personnel for the regulation and protection of air traffic services;
(d) for the establishment and regulation of aviation security including
(i) coordinating security activities with the relevant agencies of Government and the National Security Council for the purpose of preventing acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation;
(ii) licensing and certifying civil aviation inspectors, security personnel responsible for screening, special agents, auditors or other properly licensed or certified persons;
(iii) ensuring compliance with the provisions enshrined in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme;
(iv) making Directives with respect to security measures for the purpose of safeguarding civil aviation against acts of criminal violence, air piracy, the introduction of unauthorised weapons, explosives or incendiary devices onto an aircraft;
(v) making Directives requiring an airport operator to have in place security contingency plans;
(vi) taking of security measures to safeguard air transport, life and property; and
(vii) providing for the protection of sensitive security measures, procedures, processes, data, information and other matters that may compromise the safety and security of civil aviation in the Republic;
(e) for the establishment and regulation of airports and aerodromes including
(i) regulating the establishment and use of airports;
(ii) licensing and certification of airports, aerodromes and the construction, operation, maintenance and management of navigational sites;
(iii) providing standards for the establishment of aerodromes;
(iv) taking measures to ensure that aerodrome operators provide adequate level of rescue fire fighting services for the category of aerodrome; and
(v) ensuring that air operators, airport operators, concessionaires and users of the airport abide by environmental protection laws and regulations including protection from aircraft noise and engine emissions, bird hazard control, handling of hazardous material, petroleum products sippage, waste management and apply the appropriate sanctions in the event of a violation; and
(f) for providing economic Directives, consumer protection Directives and aviation service Directives for air transport including
(i) the licensing of air transport subject to relevant rules and Directives in force for the economic regulation of airports, airlines, airport catering, ground handling service operators, aviation freight forwarders and other providers of air transport services; and
(ii) establishing guidelines for commercial arrangements entered into by air operators for the purpose of ensuring continuous surveillance over registered operators and the development of operating licences.
