Tema Plane Crash Exposed Ghana’s Weak General Aviation System — Captain Asiwome Calls for Urgent Reforms

Ghanaian pilot and United Airlines first officer Captain Asiwome Dzakuma says the investigation into the fatal Tema plane crash has exposed major weaknesses in Ghana’s general aviation system, urging policymakers to overhaul aviation regulations and invest in the largely untapped sector.

Speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey, Captain Asiwome said the findings of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau (AIB) point to a broader lack of understanding of general aviation in Ghana.

“My heart goes out to the two who lost their lives and their families,” he said. “Aviation has developed as a result of lessons we learn from incidents like this. Safety in aviation comes as people have laid their lives down to teach us lessons.”

Although he said he had not read the AIB’s full report into the March 16, 2026 crash in Tema, Captain Asiwome noted that portions he had reviewed revealed significant gaps in Ghana’s approach to general aviation.

“Honestly, I haven’t read the full report, but I was listening to excerpts of the report, and that alone tells me that we lack knowledge in general aviation in Ghana a lot,” he said.

The aviation advocate explained that the aircraft involved was an ultralight, commonly known as a kit aircraft, which can legally be assembled and maintained by owners under regulations in countries with mature general aviation industries.

“Ultralights are basically hobbyist things. They also have their own regulations,” he explained.

Captain Asiwome questioned aspects of the report relating to flight clearances, arguing that Ghana’s regulatory framework is structured almost entirely around commercial aviation.

“In a well-developed general aviation sector, you’d mark your airspace maybe from ground to 5,000 feet as uncontrolled airspace,” he said. “As an ultralight pilot, you do not need the kind of clearance they are talking about. You take off from a grass strip, maintain a certain altitude and you’re on your own.”

He continued: “Pilots have the responsibility of broadcasting their positions. You don’t talk to air traffic control the way commercial airlines do. That exposes us again. We do not have general aviation.”

According to Captain Asiwome, Ghana’s general aviation sector remains severely underdeveloped despite its enormous economic potential.

“General aviation in Ghana is almost non-existent,” he said.

He noted that Ghana only recently relaxed restrictions that prevented commercial operations with single-engine aircraft, a regulation he believes slowed the growth of smaller aviation businesses.

“There is a lot in our regulations that we also need to revisit and amend to suit general aviation,” he said.

Captain Asiwome believes expanding general aviation could unlock opportunities in agriculture, medical evacuation, tourism, disaster response, air taxi services, pilot training and youth employment.

“The way forward,” he said, “will be to collaborate with people in the industry, organisations like ours and others, to sit together and draw a comprehensive roadmap to untap Ghana’s general aviation industry.”

The pilot is leading the Arise and Fly campaign through Strategic Aviation Services, an initiative aimed at promoting general aviation as a driver of national development and job creation. He has also proposed a “One District, One Airstrip” policy to expand aviation infrastructure across Ghana.