Ghana Narrowly Averts Aviation Disaster as Troop Flight Diverts to Lomé

Ghana came close to an aviation disaster when an Ethiopian Airlines flight carrying 213 Ghana Army personnel returning from a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL GHANBATT 91) was denied permission to land at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The aircraft, which arrived in Accra on Thursday night, was forced to circle in the skies for nearly an hour, running critically low on fuel.

With no clearance granted due to ongoing runway works, the pilot was eventually compelled to divert the aircraft to Lomé, Togo, to ensure the safety of the soldiers and crew.

The frustrated troops have since petitioned President John Dramani Mahama, condemning what they described as the “reckless” refusal by Ghana Airports Company Limited’s (GACL) Managing Director, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, to grant the plane landing rights.

They insist the situation placed their lives at risk and have demanded accountability from the airport authorities.