The Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) has formally announced its intention to embark on industrial action at the Ghana Civil
The Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) has formally announced its intention to embark on industrial action at the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) if longstanding grievances are not addressed by January 15, 2026.
In a statement dated January 5, 2026, the Association cited persistent failures by management to resolve issues related to salary inequities, improper staff placements, and general disregard for agreements reached during negotiations.
The strike notice is issued in compliance with Sections 159 and 160 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which require a minimum seven-day notice prior to lawful industrial action.
GhATSEA’s grievances date back over a decade.
In 2012, personnel recruited with HND qualifications were reportedly placed in junior staff positions contrary to engineering organograms and national public-sector standards.
While interventions by successive GCAA Director-Generals temporarily corrected these anomalies, the Association alleges that the same irregularities recurred in 2014, 2019, and even 2022.
Particularly, some members with BSc degrees were still placed on Salary Level 4— the lowest senior staff level—despite repeated petitions to management.
The Association also flagged persistent salary distortions under the supervision of the current Director of Human Resources (DHR), Ebenezer Sagoe.
GhATSEA claims that salary gaps are minimal or nonexistent between Level 7 and Level 6 staff, while excessively wide between Level 6 and Level 5, and that Level 5 employees sometimes earn more than those at higher or earlier levels.
The union contends that these inequities have undermined morale, professionalism, and confidence in the institution’s HR administration.
GhATSEA further highlighted what it described as inconsistent and contradictory positions by management.
In 2016, management reportedly described technical and safety personnel as “non-essential” to justify decisions before the National Labour Commission (NLC).
Today, management allegedly labels the same staff “essential,” a shift the Association argues exposes a troubling double standards that undermines good-faith labour relations.
The dispute has seen repeated failed engagements. In late October 2025, GhATSEA postponed planned industrial action after assurances from GCAA management and the Board that negotiations would proceed in good faith.
However, a subsequent meeting produced no agreement or commitment, reinforcing the perception among members that management continues to trivialize their concerns and bypass the Board’s directives.
GhATSEA has called for immediate implementation of prior recommendations, including the full execution of the Dr. Imoro Report and the Promotional Needs Petition submitted on July 16, 2025.
The union has also requested the removal of Ebenezer Sagoe as DHR, citing a pattern of inaction and reliance on intervention from senior management to correct recurring staff placement and salary issues.
The Association stressed that unresolved disputes among technical and safety personnel could compromise the integrity of the airspace operations, emphasizing that the strike action, if necessary, is intended to safeguard operational efficiency, national safety, and industrial harmony.
GhATSEA remains committed to peaceful engagement but warned that failure to resolve issues by the mid-January deadline will leave members with no option but to lay down their tools.
The strike notice was signed by Engr. David Annan Mensah, President of GhATSEA, and sent to the press to formally inform the public and relevant authorities of the Association’s position.
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