By: Binta Jaiteh & Aminata Jallow
In a significant showcasing of progress, the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) boldly delivered its 2022 activity report to the Parliament’s Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) on Thursday, unveiling a comprehensive narrative of its endeavors.
Fansu Bojang, the Director General of GCAA, commanded attention as he articulated that the report is strategically organized into seven distinct sections, each illuminating vital components of the authority’s mission and organizational framework. The report delves into crucial topics such as transformative aviation sector reforms, vigilant regulatory oversight activities, and robust air transport and commercial operations while providing a detailed examination of operational, human resources, and financial performance for the period ending December 31, 2022.
He reaffirmed the authority’s pivotal responsibilities, which encompass the meticulous regulation of aviation throughout the Gambia, the dynamic management and operation of Banjul International Airport, and the delivery of essential air navigation services.
“Throughout the review period, we upheld a fully constituted board of directors composed of nine adept members, supported by a skilled management team headed by the Director General, along with the Deputy Director General and various department heads overseeing daily operations.
“In alignment with the ICWA guidelines and to enact the national transport policy spanning 2018 to 2027, the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure initiated a crucial study in 2020. This study, ripe with insights, recommended the separation of regulatory and service functions, a decisive move endorsed by the cabinet in December 2021,” DG Bojang explained with clarity and purpose.
Under this progressive framework, GCAA’s mandate will resolutely focus on regulatory oversight, while a new, dedicated entity will rise to manage airport operations and administration. An independent bureau will also be established for aircraft accident investigations, strictly adhering to international civil aviation standards and best practices.
Bojang further elaborated on the government’s strategic vision to establish a public-private partnership model for the management of airport operations and to engage ASEGNA in delivering premier air navigation services.
To facilitate this transformation, a dedicated project team has been assembled, charged with the critical task of executing the decoupling process and backed by expert guidance from a consultant. “Regulatory oversight is the bedrock of GCAA’s operations. During the review period, we registered 14 aircraft under the Gambia Civil Aviation banner, of which nine were declared airworthy, while five tragically lacked valid airworthiness certificates,” he asserted, his voice resonating with urgency.
The Director General went on to emphasize that this year marked the triumphant approval of the Aviation Security Quality Assurance Program and the Aviation Security Training Program—a milestone in enhancing national aviation security. The crafting of an inspection checklist for the Civil Aviation Training Center is also underway, undergoing meticulous review.
“Our unwavering dedication to training and certification has been evident, exemplified by the successful recertification of National Aviation Security Instructors conducted during this period.
“During the review year, we proudly issued 15 air service licenses—nine granted to scheduled operators and six extended to non-scheduled operators. Furthermore, we granted 46 travel agency licenses, including one for a cargo agency, along with 11 for e-ticket sales, and 36 renewals,” he recounted enthusiastically.
In the realm of consumer protection, a total of 72 complaints were documented in 2022, revealing a keen awareness of customer concerns—36 related to flight delays, 33 to cancellations, and 31 to denied boarding. At Banjul International Airport, we successfully managed a staggering 177,929 arrivals and 181,980 departures, underscoring our operational excellence.
“This total of 359,909 passengers illustrates a remarkable surge of 159,436 passengers, or 44%, compared to 200,473 passengers in 2021. This increase not only showcases the industry’s resilience in recovering from the aftermath of COVID-19 but also signals a promising upward trajectory moving forward. In regional traffic, we proudly handled 106,622 passengers, marking an increase of 44,296 passengers or 41.5% compared to 62,326 passengers in 2021,” he proudly proclaimed.
Moreover, he explained, European traffic experienced a dramatic uplift, registering a 45% increase with 253,287 passengers recorded. In a testament to the resurgence, aircraft movements reached an impressive count of 5,089, a significant 70.7% rise over the previous year. Our cargo operations were equally fruitful, achieving a total of 1,337 tonnes—comprising 644.8 tonnes for export and 692.1 tonnes for import—a 12% increase reflecting our robust operational capabilities. Notably, we proudly reported zero incidents of human or drug trafficking throughout the year.
“The authority steadfastly provided exceptional air traffic control services within the Banjul Airport Airspace Control Zone,” he emphasized.
In addition to these accomplishments, we invested in our personnel through extensive in-house training programs covering vital areas such as aviation security, airport rescue, firefighting services, airport operations, and air navigation services.
On the financial front, the authority’s operating performance for 2022 reveals a striking turnaround, with turnover skyrocketing by 74.03% to an impressive $618,800,000, recovering from $355,600,000 in 2021. This extraordinary growth is a direct testament to our strategic recovery efforts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although direct costs for the period increased, our overall performance remains resilient and promising.
