The Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GhATSEA) has formally notified the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of its intention to embark on a nationwide strike beginning January 15, 2026, over what it describes as management’s persistent failure to address long-standing welfare and administrative concerns.

In a press release issued on Monday, the Association, an affiliate of the International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Associations, said several years of dialogue, mediation and arbitration with GCAA management have yielded no meaningful results, forcing members to consider industrial action as a last resort.

GhATSEA recalled that during proceedings before the National Labour Commission (NLC) in 2016, GCAA management—then led by Mr. Ebenezer Sagoe—argued that members of the Association were non-essential workers.

However, the Association says management has since reversed that position and now classifies the same workers as essential, a shift it describes as inconsistent and driven by convenience rather than principle.

The Association also accused management of disregarding directives from the GCAA Board.

On October 29, 2025, the Board reportedly instructed management to engage GhATSEA in good faith after the Association threatened industrial action.

Acting on assurances that its concerns would be addressed, GhATSEA suspended its planned strike the following day. According to the Association, subsequent engagements produced no concrete proposals, agreements or commitments, in direct contradiction to the Board’s instructions.

Similar situations, it said, occurred in September 2025 when management intervened to halt a strike but later failed to honour its promises.

At the centre of the dispute are several grievances GhATSEA attributes largely to the conduct of the Director of Human Resources, Mr. Ebenezer Sagoe.

These include what the Association describes as inequitable job placement practices dating back to 2012, when HND-qualified recruits were wrongly classified as junior staff.

Although that anomaly was corrected after intervention, GhATSEA says similar issues resurfaced in 2014 and 2019, again requiring corrective action by successive Director-Generals.

The Association further complained that in 2022, BSc degree holders were placed on Salary Level 4—the lowest senior staff grade—and have remained there despite repeated petitions.

Other concerns include what GhATSEA calls unfair salary administration, citing minimal or nonexistent gaps between Salary Levels 7 and 6, an excessively wide gap between Levels 6 and 5, and cases where some Level 5 employees earn more than earlier recruits at the same or even higher levels.

GhATSEA is also demanding the full implementation of the Dr. Imoro Report of 2009, which was commissioned following protests over salary disparities, as well as urgent action on a Promotional Needs Petition submitted on July 16, 2025.

In a strong call, the Association urged the removal of Mr. Sagoe, accusing him of a decade-long pattern of misconduct and inaction unless compelled by higher authorities.

According to GhATSEA, his continued stay in office has entrenched systemic challenges and eroded staff morale.

Warning of broader consequences, the Association cautioned that unresolved issues affecting technical and safety personnel could undermine the integrity of Ghana’s airspace operations.

It stressed that aviation safety, national security and operational efficiency could be at risk if the situation remains unresolved.

While reaffirming its commitment to peaceful engagement, GhATSEA said it would have no option but to “lay down its tools” if all outstanding issues are not resolved by January 15, 2026.

The statement was signed by the President of GhATSEA, Engr. David Annan Mensah, who said the Association remains determined to defend the welfare of its members and promote fairness within Ghana’s aviation sector.