Ghana Tests Airport Security Readiness in Major Emergency Drill | By Dominick Andoh
Ghana is stepping up its preparedness for potential aviation security threats, with the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) scheduled to conduct a full-scale emergency simulation exercise at Accra International Airport today, Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The exercise, dubbed “FALCON EYE, 2026,” is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon and will test the country’s readiness to respond to an incident involving unlawful interference with airport operations and facilities.
According to a public notice issued by GACL, the exercise is designed to assess the adequacy of Accra International Airport’s contingency and aerodrome emergency plans and evaluate Ghana’s preparedness to handle emergencies at the country’s principal international gateway.
The simulation will involve a coordinated response by multiple agencies, including members of the Emergency Operation Center, in an exercise intended to test how effectively the institutions responsible for airport safety and security work together during a crisis.
An Exercise Planning Team comprising representatives of GACL, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Ghana Army and the Ghana Police Service was mandated to plan and conduct the exercise on behalf of the airport operator.
The exercise forms part of Ghana’s obligations under the Ghana Civil Aviation Directives and the standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which require a full-scale emergency exercise at least once every two years.
Such exercises allow airport operators, security agencies and emergency responders to evaluate existing procedures, test coordination arrangements and identify weaknesses that could affect their response to a real incident.
The choice of an unlawful-interference scenario places particular emphasis on the ability of airport authorities and security agencies to respond collectively to threats targeting airport operations and infrastructure.
GACL said passengers and members of the public should expect minimal interruptions to airport operations during the exercise.
The company has appealed for public cooperation as participating agencies carry out the simulation.
The drill comes as aviation security remains central to the safe operation of international airports, where effective coordination among airport management, law enforcement, military personnel and aviation regulators is essential to protecting passengers, airport infrastructure and flight operations.
By testing its emergency arrangements, Ghana aims to assess whether the relevant agencies can respond effectively when confronted with a serious security incident at Accra International Airport.
Ghana Tests Airport Security Readiness in Major Emergency Drill | AviationGhana.com
