Aviation experts and the Air Force Command have expressed concern about the threat of a tall billboard at West Tanokrom, which is located next to the Jubilee Park in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis.
According to the experts, the said billboard is on a flight path and far above the required height of buildings permissible in the flight path, thus posing danger to flight safety.
The concern was raised as a result of the increase in air traffic on the Accra-Takoradi route due to the oil discovery in the region.
The command has not yet been successful at getting the advertiser and the advertising agency in charge of the erected billboard to pull the structure down to avert any calamity.
When the Daily Graphic visited the area, it found out that the said billboard was taller than any other building on the flight path.
Much as corporate bodies and individuals are at liberty to legitimately undertake economic activities to earn some income under the Constitution of Ghana, there is the need to ensure that such activities are carried out with circumspection.
Under Chapter Five of the 1992 Constitution (Article 24, Clause (1) , “Every person has the right to work under satisfactory, safe and healthy conditions, and shall receive equal pay for equal work without distinction of any kind”.
The economic activities of one party should not in any way pose a threat to other members of the society.
It is interesting that the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has a whole outfit in charge of billboards and all other forms of outdoor advertisement, but it beats one’s imagination as to why the advertising agency was allowed to erect the said billboard on the flight path without due regard to safety regulations.
In the event of any disaster, not only will the aircraft be damaged but lives and property in the area as well may be lost.
There are many instances in which billboards have been pulled down by a slight rainstorm and up to date STMA’s department in charge of advertisements has not taken the initiative to find out whether those the Assembly has granted permits to erect billboards have done so in accordance with the Assembly’s regulations.
In Clause (4) of the same Article 24 of the Constitution, it is stated that “Restrictions shall not be placed on the exercise of the right conferred by Clause (3) of this article, except restrictions prescribed by law and reasonably necessary in the interest of national security or public order or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
It is, therefore, important that the Assembly and other regulatory organisations move in to ensure that the rights of other members of the public were not trampled upon as a result of the negligence of other members of the society.
Flight experts have expressed the need for a bigger airport for Takoradi but noted that that is an expensive venture for the country at the moment.
Therefore, the location of the Ghana Air Force, which has maintained the Takoradi Airport till now is very strategic and commendable.
They are of the view that there are many structures which could affect flight safety when the aircraft is moving below a certain height above the ground.
To them, the best thing to do at the moment is to ensure that people who are putting up structures on the flight path are advised to keep within a certain space limit to avoid obstruction of flights.
The experts again say there are other objects or structures that could adversely affect flights, including construction cranes near an airport, newly constructed buildings, and new towers and have therefore advised those with the intention to build houses in areas around the Takoradi Airport to seek advice.
It is the hope of this reporter that the authorities would not wait for a disaster to occur before the necessary precautions are taken.
When contacted, the Takoradi Air Force Commander, Air Commodore Michael Samson-Oje, said the height of the said billboard was not permissible on the flight path.
He, therefore, urged the agency responsible to either relocate it or reduce its height.
When contacted, the head of Public Relations at the STMA said they were very mindful of the need to ensure the safety of the people.
“The department in charge of that would move immediately to ensure that the right thing is done,” he said.
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