GCAA workers seek Mahama’s intervention over intimidation -

The Ghana Air Traffic Safety Electronics Association (GHATSEA) has accused the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, of using National Security personnel to intimidate workers during a late-night visit to their workplace.

In an open letter to President John Dramani Mahama dated September 1, 2026, the association alleged that National Security personnel accompanied the GCAA Director-General to the workplace at about while some members of the association were on duty.

GHATSEA described the alleged involvement of National Security in the matter as unlawful, arguing that the issue was essentially a labour-related dispute that should be handled through the appropriate industrial relations mechanisms.

The association has therefore appealed to President Mahama to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and take steps to ensure that workers’ rights are protected.

Earlier complaint
GHATSEA said the latest development followed an earlier complaint it submitted to the Presidency in February 2026 concerning what it described as the inappropriate involvement of National Security in a labour dispute.

“The details surrounding what we consider to be the unlawful involvement of National Security in a labour-related issue were comprehensively outlined in a letter addressed to your office dated 3rd February 2026,” the association said.

According to the association, it has not received a response to that earlier correspondence.
GHATSEA said the absence of a response had contributed to growing anxiety among workers and alleged that the GCAA management had created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty within the workplace.

The association further accused management of resorting to intimidation, coercion and victimisation against members and leaders who had raised concerns about their working conditions.

Industrial relations concerns
GHATSEA maintained that the concerns raised by its members constituted legitimate workplace grievances and should be addressed through dialogue and established labour relations procedures rather than intimidation.

It warned that the alleged conduct was damaging relations between management and workers and could ultimately affect staff morale, productivity and the smooth functioning of the organisation.

The association said the use of security personnel in what it considers a labour-related matter was particularly troubling because it could create fear among employees and undermine confidence in established mechanisms for resolving workplace disputes.

GHATSEA is therefore calling for presidential intervention to ensure that disputes between the GCAA management and workers are handled within the framework of Ghana’s labour laws.

President on interdiction
The association also drew attention to the case of its President, Engr. David Annan Mensah, who it said has been on interdiction since March 3, 2026.

According to GHATSEA, the interdiction was imposed allegedly over claims that its president had threatened industrial action.

The association described the sanction as unjust and disproportionate, insisting that the position taken by its leadership arose from concerns over workplace conditions and workers’ rights.

GHATSEA argued that raising concerns about employment conditions and advocating for members should not automatically be interpreted as misconduct, particularly where workers are seeking to address what they consider legitimate grievances.

The association called on the President to examine the circumstances surrounding the interdiction as part of a broader investigation into the relationship between GCAA management and the affected workers.

Call for presidential intervention
GHATSEA wants President Mahama to investigate the alleged late-night involvement of National Security personnel, the circumstances surrounding the interdiction of its president and the broader allegations of intimidation and victimisation.

It also wants the Presidency to ensure that the rights of workers are respected and that future disputes between management and employees are resolved through lawful and established labour mechanisms.

The association said restoring trust between management and workers was essential to maintaining a stable working environment and ensuring that employees could perform their duties without fear or undue pressure.

The allegations by GHATSEA have not been independently established, and the association’s claims concerning the conduct of the GCAA Director-General and the involvement of National Security remain allegations.

GHATSEA, however, insists that the issues warrant presidential attention and a formal investigation to establish the facts and ensure accountability.

The association said it remained committed to protecting the interests of its members while seeking a resolution of the dispute within the framework of Ghana’s labour laws.

Non-interest banking not religious doctrine — Dr Asiama

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has assured Ghanaians, particularly the Christian community, that the planned introduction of non-interest banking is a commercial financial initiative and not a mechanism for advancing any religious doctrine.

He said non-interest banking would be open to all Ghanaians regardless of their religious beliefs and would operate alongside conventional banking to expand financial inclusion, consumer choice and access to alternative financial products.

Governor of BoG, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, gave the assurance during a strategic engagement with representatives of Ghana’s religious community in Accra, where he sought to clarify concerns surrounding the model and explain the legal and regulatory framework under which it would operate.

The engagement followed concerns in sections of the public, particularly within parts of the Christian community, that non-interest banking could give one religious group an advantage within Ghana’s financial system.

The Governor acknowledged those concerns, saying they were genuine and required frank engagement between the central bank and faith communities.

“The bank is not a regulator of religion, nor is it introducing a new religious category,” Dr Asiama said.
He explained that the BoG’s responsibility was simply to provide the regulatory and supervisory framework under which licensed financial institutions could offer non-interest banking as an inclusive and non-discriminatory commercial model.

Alternative, not replacement
Dr Asiama stressed that non-interest banking would not displace conventional banking or compel customers to abandon the existing banking system.

Rather, it would provide an additional option for individuals and businesses seeking financial products structured differently from conventional interest-based banking.

“Properly implemented, the non-interest banking and finance can complement conventional banking,” he said, adding that customers who preferred conventional banking would continue to have access to it, while others could choose non-interest products.

The Governor said the broader objective was to widen the range of financial products available to the public while promoting financial inclusion and greater consumer choice.

‘We regulate institutions, not religion’
Dr Asiama said the BoG’s mandate was to regulate financial institutions and the products they offer, rather than determine or regulate religious beliefs.

He explained that non-interest banking is a commercial financial model that avoids the payment and receipt of interest, excessive uncertainty, gambling and investments in prohibited activities.

Although the products are structured differently from conventional banking, he said they remain commercial financial products, with particular emphasis on fairness, transparency, equity, risk-sharing and transactions backed by real economic activity and productive assets.

The framework, he added, seeks to promote production-based finance, responsible and sustainable growth and shared prosperity—principles he said extend beyond any single religious tradition.

Framework already backed by law
The Governor also sought to dispel the impression that non-interest banking was an entirely new concept being introduced without legislative authority.

He cited Section 18(1)(R) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930) as providing the legal basis for financial institutions to offer non-interest banking services.

The Bank of Ghana subsequently developed guidelines to regulate and supervise the sector.

The framework allows existing financial institutions to provide non-interest services through dedicated windows, while also creating a pathway for the licensing of fully fledged non-interest banking institutions.

The central bank has been consulting faith communities following the publication of its non-interest banking framework, with Dr Asiama noting that the consultations had involved the Christian Council of Ghana, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches, Christian civil society organisations, selected churches and Islamic leadership representatives.

He said those engagements had reinforced the need for public communication that respected Ghana’s religious diversity while making clear that non-interest banking products were available to all citizens.

NIFAC advisory, not regulatory
Dr Asiama also clarified the role of the newly established Non-Interest Financial Advisory Council (NIFAC), amid possible concerns about who would exercise authority over the emerging sector.

The five-member council, inaugurated on August 18, is expected to advise the Bank of Ghana on the regulation and supervision of non-interest banking institutions.

However, the Governor stressed that NIFAC would have no power to replace the BoG’s statutory regulatory, supervisory or enforcement responsibilities.

Its role, he said, was to provide technical advice and support the development of the sector within the central bank’s existing governance framework.

Same regulatory discipline
The Governor assured the public that institutions offering non-interest banking would be subjected to the same level of regulatory discipline expected across Ghana’s financial sector.

“The same regulatory discipline applies,” he said, explaining that oversight would cover payment systems, transfers of funds, sources of capital, leadership and governance.

He stressed that no person may carry on non-interest banking business without a BoG licence, while the products would remain subject to safeguards designed to protect depositors and preserve financial-system stability.

Dr Asiama said the central bank’s licensing process remained robust and that consumer protection, transparency and sound governance would be central to the operation of the sector.

From policy to implementation
The Governor described the inauguration of NIFAC in August as an important turning point from policy development towards implementation.

He said properly implemented non-interest banking could complement conventional finance, broaden access to financial services, mobilise investment and contribute to inclusive socio-economic development.

The BoG’s stated objective is therefore to create a wider and more diverse financial system in which customers can choose products that suit their preferences without discrimination or pressure to adopt a particular banking model.

Dialogue needed to prevent misconceptions
The Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, commended the Bank of Ghana for creating a platform for direct engagement with faith communities.

He said insufficient information could easily produce misconceptions, stressing the importance of dialogue between state institutions and religious leaders.

“Where there is no dialogue, assumptions often take the place of facts,” he observed. Mr Ankrah said the country’s different faith communities might approach issues from varying perspectives, but all had a common interest in promoting peace, stability and prosperity.

He urged institutions and faith communities to continue engaging frankly, honestly and sincerely so that concerns could be addressed before they developed into distrust.

The engagement, he said, had the potential to clarify the framework, strengthen confidence between the central bank and religious communities and serve the broader national interest.

Dr Asiama consequently urged Christian leaders and other stakeholders to continue seeking clarification from the central bank on any aspect of the framework they considered unclear.

He reaffirmed the BoG’s commitment to transparency, consumer protection and regulatory integrity, insisting that non-interest and conventional banking could operate side by side.

The central bank’s message is therefore that non-interest banking should be understood not as a religious system, but as an additional commercial financial model designed to broaden Ghana’s financial landscape while remaining firmly under the supervision and licensing authority of the Bank of Ghana.