The revelation that flight safety at the Sunyani Airport is under threat due to the growing colony of bats at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) must be a matter of national concern.
According to reports, the bats frequently fly across the airport’s airspace, sometimes swarming around grounded aircraft and invading engine compartments, tyres, and fuselages.
Aviation officials have rightly raised alarm that such activities, if not checked, could endanger aircraft operations and compromise safety for passengers and crew at the Sunyani Airport.
The Ghanaian Times finds this situation deeply worrying, especially considering that the Sunyani Airport was only refurbished and reopened in 2022 to enhance domestic connectivity. Having invested public resources into the facility, it would be regrettable if operational safety is undermined by what appears to be a manageable environmental challenge. Beyond the investment in refurbishing the airport, Ghana’s enviable aviation safety record should not be allowed to be compromised in any form or shape.
The University of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) must therefore act swiftly and decisively. It is commendable that UENR has stationed staff from its Ecotourism Department at the airport to assist with post-landing aircraft inspections.
However, that measure is only a temporary fix. A permanent and science-based solution is urgently required. The university’s intention to relocate the bats to a safer habitat is a step in the right direction, but such a process must be carefully planned and executed in collaboration with the Wildlife Division and other conservation authorities to avoid ecological imbalance.
The bats, while posing a nuisance, also hold ecological and research value, and their removal must not create new environmental problems elsewhere.
We at The Ghanaian Times are equally concerned about reports that residents from nearby communities hunt the bats for food, sometimes causing damage to vehicles and university property. Such acts must be condemned and stopped.
The relevant municipal and regional authorities should step in to regulate human activity around the campus and ensure that public safety and property are protected.
It is also important that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) lends technical support to the Sunyani Airport management in addressing this challenge. Techniques used in deterring bird strikes, such as deploying sound-frequency devices or habitat modification, could be adapted to discourage bats from encroaching on airport airspace.
Beyond this, the issue raises a broader question about airport safety management in the country. Rural and regional airports face unique environmental and infrastructural challenges that must be addressed through effective fencing, regular inspection, and continuous environmental monitoring. Safety cannot be compromised under any circumstance.
The Ghanaian Times therefore calls for an urgent inter-agency task force, comprising the GACL, GCAA, UENR, Wildlife Division, and the Bono Regional Coordinating Council, to develop and implement a sustainable mitigation plan.
Protecting the Sunyani Airport from potential wildlife interference is not just about safeguarding aircraft; it is about protecting human lives, preserving research resources, and maintaining public confidence in domestic air travel.
The time to act is now.
