GHANA: Starbow Accident Commitee Presents Preliminary Report

The five-member committee, tasked to investigate the cause of the October 5, 2015, Starbow Airline accident at Tamale Airport, has presented its preliminary report to Mrs Joyce Mogtari Bawa, Deputy Minister of Transport.

Speaking during the presentation of the preliminary report, Air Commodore Kwame Mamphey, Chairman of the Committee, said the actual report would be presented to the Ministry in two weeks’ time, during which members would be in a better position to explain to Ghanaians and stakeholders the cause of the accident as well “For now, we cannot comment on this preliminary report as it is not the final report,” he said.

He appealed to Ghanaians to not to lose hope in the aviation sector, and continue to patronise the airlines operating in the country as they are safe.

He said as part of the investigations, the Committee which was inaugurated on November 5, 2015, had to send some parts of the aircraft, including the Blackbox to the Accident Investigations Centre in the United Kingdom for investigations and other analysis.

Mrs Mogtari Bawa said the setting up of the committee was in line with Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Regulations, as well as the Ghana Civil Aviation Act 678 of 20004, which mandate the Transport Ministry to set up a committee with the purpose of investigating aircraft accidents.

She said the committee was made up of experts within the Aviation Industry, with the requisite experience and expertise in areas such as aircraft operations, airworthiness, aerodromes, and aircraft control, among others.

She pledged to fully disclose the cause of the accident and the recommendations of the Committee to stakeholders and Ghanaians when the Ministry receives the final report.

The terms of reference for the committee included establishing the probable cause of the accident, determining the extent of fatalities and injuries if any, establishing the extent of loses or damage to property, make recommendations to forestall any future occurrences, as well as come out with a preliminary report within 30 working days.

Other members of the Committee are Mr Emmanuel Quao, Wing Commodore Mike Ayesu, Mr Kenneth Kwawukume, and Group, Captain Adu Gyamfi, whilst Mr Ellis Hugh-Tamakloe is serving as the Coordinator.

On October 6, a Starbow Flight S9110 which was en route from Accra to Tamale was involved in an accident at the Tamale Airport.

The aircraft went through a barricade at the end of the Tamale runway and stopped.