Ghana and Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in search and rescue operations for aircraft in distress.
The agreement was signed on Monday, 9 March 2026, at the headquarters of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in Accra. The Director-General of the GCAA, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, signed on behalf of Ghana, while the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, signed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The agreement operationalises key provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) by establishing procedures for alerts, notifications and coordination between rescue coordination centres.
It provides a framework for mutual assistance and joint response during search and rescue operations within the respective search and rescue regions of both countries. The MoU outlines procedures and guidance on how the two authorities will collaborate in the event of an aircraft accident or incident.
Search and rescue operations are mandatory under ICAO Annex 12 and require effective coordination between states to ensure a timely response when aircraft are in distress. The framework is intended to strengthen mechanisms for rapid response, improve cross-border coordination and enhance emergency preparedness to ensure that aircraft and persons in distress within the sub-region receive coordinated rescue support.
