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The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has put together a document that will mandate all Ghanaian registered airlines to ensure that persons with disability (PWDs) are provided with the basic facilities to enhance their safety.

The document, which is expected to be released early next year, would also direct all airlines to at least, provide and make available enough space for PWDs on their flights

Currently the document is in its final stage of review by stakeholders in the aviation sector and the Ghana Society for the Physically Disabled.

At a stakeholder’s forum in Accra last Friday, the Director in charge of Legal, International Relations and Corporate Communication of the GCAA, Mrs Joyce Thompson, said when completed, the document would act as the guideline on how PWDs ought to be treated when on board any aircraft.

"This proposed directive will update existing provisions in the GCAA safety regulations, LI 2000 with respect to facilitation for persons with reduced mobility at all airports serving civil aviation in Ghana.

According to her, the purpose of the technical directive was to supplement the provision of the GACC safety regulation.

"This directive shall apply to all Ghanaian registered air carriers, airport operators, ground handlers, security profiling firms, immigration, Ghana Revenue Authority, tenant restricted area operators, restaurant operators and all other service providers at the airport serving civil aviation," Mrs Thompson said.

She said the directive “shall come into force one month from the date of publication.”

Document highlights

Explaining some of the basic areas in the proposed directive, Mrs Thompson said all procedures forming part of an air travel journey, including reservations, check-in, immigration and customs, security clearances, transfers within airports, embarkation, and disembarkation, departure, carriage and arrival shall be adapted to the needs of PWDs.

That, she said, was to facilitate the clearance and air transportation of such persons in a dignified manner.

She said the document would also specify and spell out when an airline could refuse to transport a PWD.

"Aircraft operators shall not refuse to transport persons with disability on the basis of their disability except for safety requirements as specified in GACC safety regulation.

Asked when the final document would be released, Mrs Thompson said as soon as stakeholders agreed on the document.