By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Tensions are mounting at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as technical personnel under the Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) threaten industrial action over what they describe as years of unresolved labour and welfare issues.
In a statement dated January 5, 2026, GhATSEA announced it has served formal notice of a strike after what it says has been a prolonged failure by GCAA management to address persistent concerns, despite repeated efforts at dialogue, mediation and arbitration under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).
The association’s concerns centre largely on alleged inequities in job placement and salary administration, which it attributes to the actions and inaction of the current Director of Human Resources, Mr. Ebenezer Sagoe.
According to GhATSEA, problems with staff placement and remuneration date back to 2012, when members recruited with HND and BSc qualifications were allegedly placed on inappropriate staff grades and salary levels. The association says these anomalies have had to be corrected repeatedly through the intervention of successive Director-Generals rather than through routine human resource processes.
Beyond placement issues, GhATSEA also raised concerns about salary distortions within the Authority. These include unusually narrow salary gaps between certain grades, wide disparities between others, and situations where junior officers reportedly earn more than colleagues who were recruited earlier at the same or higher levels.
In strongly worded remarks, the association accused the Director of Human Resources of acting only when compelled by top management, arguing that this pattern has contributed to recurring labour disputes at the Authority.
GhATSEA said it has complied with the legal requirements for industrial action by issuing a seven-day notice, in line with Sections 159 and 160 of the Labour Act. It warned that if all outstanding issues are not resolved by January 15, 2026, members will have no option but to withdraw their services.
The association cautioned that a strike involving air traffic safety electronics personnel could have serious implications for the integrity of Ghana’s airspace operations, noting that the dispute goes beyond labour concerns to touch on national safety, operational efficiency and industrial harmony.
While maintaining that it prefers a peaceful resolution, GhATSEA appealed to the Board of the GCAA to intervene decisively to avert disruption to aviation services.
The association concluded that urgent and fair action remains the only way to restore confidence and prevent an escalation of the dispute.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com
