Ghana’s Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB) is in discussions with Namibia’s Directorate of Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation on a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in aviation safety oversight.
The Namibian delegation, led by Acting Director Philippine Lundama, is in Accra to study Ghana’s accident investigation systems and explore opportunities for technical collaboration. Areas under review include wreckage management, manuals, protective equipment, and specialised investigative tools.
John M.K. Wumborti, Acting Commissioner of AIB Ghana, said such cooperation was essential for building regional resilience. “Partnerships are not only strategic but also essential to ensuring our respective organisations continue to grow in technical competence, operational efficiency, and investigative excellence,” he said.
He added that Ghana was prepared to share its systems, including evidence management and documentation frameworks, with Namibia while also learning from their experiences. Talks on the proposed MoU are expected to outline areas of technical exchange and future joint programs.
Wumborti noted that the initiative fits within the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) “No Country Left Behind” agenda, which seeks to ensure all states can meet global safety standards.
He stressed that while Ghana has made progress, knowledge sharing must remain mutual. “Even though we are ahead of them and they have come to learn from us, definitely they will have something we also need,” he said.
The Namibian team is particularly focused on revamping its wreckage and storage facility. Ms. Lundama said Accra was chosen because of Ghana’s advances in accident investigation systems. “One of the things that interested us to choose Ghana is your AI from the use of CMA and we thought we can learn good from you,” she said.
AIB Ghana’s board chair, Daniel Acquah, welcomed the delegation, saying the country had a record of helping other African states align with ICAO standards. He recalled previous technical training provided to Namibian inspectors and expressed hope that future exchanges would include more joint investigative work.
Beyond aviation, Ghana is also considering expanding its expertise into multimodal safety investigations covering rail and marine transport. Wumborti said this represented the future of integrated safety oversight in Africa and that partnerships such as the one under discussion with Namibia could set regional benchmarks.
The discussions in Accra are expected to lead to the signing of an MoU, which will formalise cooperation between the two agencies.