The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) will conduct a full-scale emergency simulation exercise at Accra International Airport on Thursday, October 15, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to test and strengthen the country’s preparedness for aviation emergencies.
The exercise, dubbed “FALCON EYE 2026,” will run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and will simulate an act of unlawful interference targeting airport operations and facilities, followed by a coordinated response from multiple security and emergency agencies.
According to GACL, the simulation is being conducted in line with the Ghana Civil Aviation Directives (GCAD) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices, which require a full-scale emergency exercise to be conducted at least once every two years.
The exercise will involve a wide range of stakeholders, including the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Ghana Army, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Ambulance Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. Members of the Emergency Operations Centre will also participate as part of the response arrangements.
An Exercise Planning Team comprising representatives from GACL, the GCAA, the Ghana Army, and the Ghana Police Service has been tasked with developing and conducting the simulation.
GACL said the exercise is aimed at testing the adequacy of the airport’s Contingency and Aerodrome Emergency Plans and evaluating Ghana’s readiness to handle emergencies at the country’s main international gateway. The simulation will also assess the effectiveness of decision-making processes, communication and information dissemination systems, and the response capabilities of emergency and security agencies.
A History of Preparedness Drills
This is not the first time Ghana has conducted such an exercise at its flagship airport. In October 2023, GACL and the Ghana Armed Forces held “Operation Ogboole 2023,” a full-scale simulation of a mass casualty evacuation involving an airplane crash into the sea offshore the Osu landing beach. Earlier exercises have included “Aerostorm” in 2002, which simulated an air crash at the threshold of the runway, and “Exercise Okore,” which simulated the hijacking of a commercial aircraft.
In November 2024, the Special Task Unit of Air Force Base Tamale, in collaboration with GACL Tamale, conducted “Exercise Tahabu,” simulating the detection of an explosive device at Yakubu Tali International Airport. A similar exercise in Tamale simulated an aircraft hijack and bomb threat.
Ghana has consistently performed well in international aviation safety and security audits. The country achieved an Effective Implementation score of 89.89% in the ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission, the highest in Africa at the time. The new Air Traffic Control Tower currently under construction at Kotoka International Airport is 20% complete and will be equipped with a visual control room, approach radar room, and other advanced technical spaces. In August 2025, GACL introduced an Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record system to enable security agencies to screen passenger information before arrival and departure.
Minimal Disruption Expected
GACL has assured the public that airport operations are expected to experience only minimal interruptions during the exercise period.
“Management of Ghana Airports Company Limited and all Stakeholders kindly solicit the co-operation of the general public in making the exercise a success,” the company said in a statement.
The exercise forms part of Ghana’s ongoing efforts to maintain and test its emergency preparedness and ensure that relevant agencies can effectively coordinate their response in the event of a real emergency at the country’s busiest airport.
