Stakeholders at a high-level engagement convened by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) in Wa have demanded the urgent demolition of encroaching structures, a ban on near-airport farming, and strict prosecution of sanitation offenders to combat escalating wildlife hazards. The forum, held at the Regional Coordinating Council Hall, brought together aviation officials, traditional leaders, and local government representatives to address severe safety risks posed by bird strikes and stray animals on the airport’s runway.
Rising Wildlife Concerns Threaten Aviation Safety
The concentration of wildlife around Wa Airport presents a critical safety concern. GACL Manager for Wildlife Management, Adams Seidu, reported the identification of over 200 bird species within a 13-kilometre radius, with Yellow-billed Kites and African Wattled Lapwings being predominant. These species are attracted by human activities, including open waste dumping, an uncovered abattoir, and inadequate enforcement of sanitation bylaws.
Agricultural practices in the vicinity further exacerbate the problem. Wa Airport Manager Eric Nartey Yeboah highlighted that grain farming, particularly rice and maize in waterlogged areas surrounding the airport, attracts large flocks of birds. These flocks, sometimes numbering over 300, can pose an immediate danger by crossing the flight path unexpectedly.
Frustration Over Enforcement and Unchecked Encroachment
During the forum, frustration over the failure to enforce existing regulations was palpable. Former Upper West Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, Suala Abdul Wahab, recalled a near-fatal incident in 2008 involving a goat on the runway that endangered an aircraft carrying the former Vice President. He expressed dismay that houses marked for demolition to secure the airport perimeter remain standing, while new unauthorized structures continue to be built.
Naa Seidu Pelpuo Yelemaana, Paramount Chief of Busa and Chairman of the New Airport Site Committee, challenged the region to take ownership of its waste management issues. He referenced Wa’s transformation from the nation’s dirtiest town in 1996 to one of the cleanest by 1998, suggesting that the current sanitation crisis is surmountable with a change in public attitude.
Sanitation as an Existential Threat
Upper West Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing delivered a strong condemnation of political interference that shields offenders from sanitation fines. He characterized the municipal filth not merely as an aviation hazard but as a significant existential threat to the Upper West Region.
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