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Ghana’s Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB) is set to deepen ties with Namibia’s Directorate of Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation through a proposed bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement, once signed, will focus on strengthening aviation safety oversight and building regional capacity for accident investigations.
The Namibian delegation, led by Acting Director Philippine Lundama, is currently in Accra to study Ghana’s accident investigation systems and explore opportunities for technical collaboration. During their visit, both parties are reviewing areas such as wreckage management, operational manuals, protective equipment, and specialized investigative tools.
Acting Commissioner of AIB Ghana, John M. K. Wumborti, said the discussions were aimed at enhancing regional resilience in aviation safety. He described partnerships of this kind as essential to building competence, efficiency, and investigative excellence. “Partnerships are not only strategic but also essential to ensuring our respective organizations continue to grow in technical competence, operational efficiency, and investigative excellence,” he said.
Wumborti explained that Ghana was willing to share its systems, particularly evidence management and documentation frameworks, with Namibia, while also learning from Namibia’s experiences. According to him, knowledge exchange must be mutual for both countries to make progress. “Even though we are ahead of them and they have come to learn from us, definitely they will have something we also need,” he added.
The proposed MoU is expected to outline key areas of technical exchange, including future joint programs, staff training, and operational cooperation during accident investigations. Both delegations believe that formalizing the arrangement will enable Africa to set benchmarks in aviation safety oversight.
The talks are also aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) “No Country Left Behind” agenda, which is designed to ensure that all member states, regardless of resources, can meet global aviation safety standards.
The Namibian team is particularly focused on revamping its wreckage and storage facility, which is a critical part of accident investigation. Lundama said Ghana was chosen as a learning partner because of its advancements in accident investigation. She noted that Accra’s use of advanced investigative tools and processes was one of the motivating factors for Namibia’s decision. “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 explained.
Welcoming the Namibian delegation, the board chair of AIB Ghana, Daniel Acquah, highlighted Ghana’s track record in helping other African countries align with ICAO standards. He recalled previous technical training offered to Namibian inspectors and expressed optimism that future collaborations would include more joint investigative work.
Beyond aviation, Ghana is also considering expanding its mandate to include multimodal safety investigations covering rail and marine transport. Wumborti described this as the future of safety oversight on the continent, saying integrated investigations would ensure greater accountability and efficiency. He added that partnerships such as the one under discussion with Namibia could serve as regional models for cross-border cooperation in safety management.
The outcome of the discussions in Accra is expected to be the signing of an MoU that will formalize cooperation between the two countries. Officials say the document will set out the framework for technical exchange, joint training, and a shared vision for aviation safety across Africa.
For Ghana, the agreement underscores its growing influence in aviation safety management on the continent, while for Namibia, it represents a step toward upgrading its investigative systems and aligning with global standards. Industry observers say the partnership could also inspire similar collaborations among other African countries, boosting the continent’s collective ability to handle aviation safety challenges.
