Committee submits report on power outage at KIA

THE five-member committee set up by the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, to investigate the recent power outage that occurred at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), has presented its report to the minister.
The incident, which occurred on March 2, 2009, resulted in a blackout at some places at the airport, including the departure hall and some parts of the car park.
According to the chairman of the committee, Mr Kingsford Laryea, the power failure was caused by a failure in one of the changeovers that supplies power to one of the two substation generators.
Mr Laryea emphasised that although one of the generators started operating, it could not supply power to the entire airport. “The incident fortunately did not affect certain key areas of the airport,” he added.
The committee, which had 14 working days to present its report, recommended among other things that certain substation items particularly the changeovers should be duplicated to prevent any future recurrence.
Mr Laryea told the Daily Graphic after the presentation that the committee recommended that both substations should be inter-connected so that one could supply power to all of the airport, if a failure occurred.
The committee again recommended that the electrical system at the airport should have a by-pass arrangement as soon as possible.
Receiving the report, Mr Hammah expressed his appreciation of work done within the short period.
He said the ministry would study the report and issue a white paper on the key recommendations of the report.
The minister said the aviation industry formed part of the government’s agenda to make Ghana the gateway of investment destination in Africa.
“We will do everything we can to make sure this strategy is achieved in the quickest possible time,” Mr Hammah added.
For her part, the Managing Director of KIA, Mrs E. Anno Sackey, said the recommendations would be critically considered for action to be taken to make KIA a safer place for all travellers.
The other members of the committee were Mr Charles Krakue, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority; Mr Charles Hanson Adu, Ghana Airport Company Ltd.; Mr T.A. Selby, Ministry of Transport; and Mrs Joyce Bannerwood, Ghana Airport Company Ltd.