The Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) has underscored the importance of establishing independent Accident Investigation Authorities (AIAs) to strengthen aviation safety across Africa. Speaking at the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI) seminar in Lisbon, Portugal, BAGAIA Commissioner, Engineer Charles Irikefe Erhueh, highlighted the challenges of creating these bodies, including political resistance, lack of skilled personnel, and slow legislative processes.
Despite these obstacles, Engineer Erhueh stressed that independent AIAs are vital for objective accident investigations, building trust, and meeting international standards. He urged both member and non-member states to institutionalize AIAs and join regional accident investigation bodies like BAGAIA.
BAGAIA’s technical assistance missions, aligned with ICAO’s Annex 13 standards, have helped states improve aviation oversight. Since its inception, BAGAIA has conducted 59 accident investigations, 61 serious incident investigations, and issued 287 safety recommendations, significantly enhancing regional aviation safety.
Erhueh called for partnerships, expanded membership, and better funding access to help states overcome challenges and improve aviation safety oversight.
