GHANA– President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Eng. Charles Kraikue as the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Eng. Kraikue’s whose appointment becomes effective as from August 2020, replaces the current Director-General, Eng. Simon Allotey, who retires at the end of July, this year.

According to a report by Ghana Web, Eng. Simon Allotey has been manning the affairs of the aviation authority since 2015.

The acting Director-General brings to the job an extensive work experience, having served as the Deputy Director General (Technical) for the past two years.

In this role, Eng. Kraikue oversaw for the transformation of GCAA’s air traffic management systems and enhanced safety within the Accra Flight Information Region (FIR).

Eng. Kraikue is also credited for the replacement of all ageing communications, Navigation, and Surveillance facilities within the FIR which had been in service for two decades.

Prior to his appointment, Eng. Kraikue had also previously served as Electrical Manager and as Director, Air traffic Safety Engineering of the Authority between 2007- 2018.

Eng. Kraikue is coming to office at a time when the authority is facing serious challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) last month claimed that it has lost almost 95% of its revenue due to the coronavirus induced ban on international passenger travel.

The Director-General of the GCAA, Simon Allotey, had at the time said that the authority had taken drastic measures such as pay cuts to remain in business.

Ghana’s main Airport, the Kotoka International Airport, was closed to passenger flights on March 22, 2020 due to the Cobid-19 pandemic.

The airport currently handles cargo transport as well as special passenger services such as the evacuation of Ghanaians from elsewhere and other nationals out of Ghana.

Last month, Chinese Embassy in Ghana donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in support of the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The items which included 10,000 nose masks, 10 infrared thermometers and 400 bottles of hand sanitisers will help the authority observe guidelines set by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization even as it plans to get restart operations.

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