The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is strengthening its risk-based regulatory framework for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to ensure the growing use of drones does not compromise aviation safety and security.
The intervention has become necessary as drone use expands beyond recreational purposes into health care, agriculture, mining, surveying and infrastructure inspection, creating the need for stronger regulatory oversight.
As a result, the GCAA has adopted the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS) Specific Operations Risk Assessment methodology through its Assessment of Risk for RPAS Operators (ARRO) framework.
The framework is to help the authority assess the risks associated with different drone operations and apply appropriate safety and oversight measures.
Opening a plenary meeting on unmanned systems in Accra last Monday, the Director-General of the GCAA, Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur, stated that the authority was also strengthening its performance-and risk-based surveillance system to ensure that regulatory oversight remained effective and proportionate as RPAS operations increased in scale and complexity.
"In preparing for the future, the GCAA has developed a national Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) Concept of Operations and continues to monitor developments in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)," he said.
Background
The JARUS plenary meeting brings together representatives of aviation authorities, regulators and industry stakeholders to advance the safe and harmonised development of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The week-long meeting, hosted by GCAA from September 14 to 18, 2026, is focused on aligning technical, safety and operational requirements for unmanned aviation across participating jurisdictions.
The plenary is also providing a platform for sharing practical experience from commercial drone operations, including medical logistics, while advancing the Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) framework to support safer and more consistent UAS operations globally.
Digital solutions
Rev. Arthur said the authority was also pursuing digital solutions to make regulatory processes more efficient, transparent and accessible, including the registration and renewal of drones and importation clearance.
He said the GCAA’s experience with Zipline’s medical logistics operations had demonstrated the practical value of unmanned technology in delivering essential services safely.
However, he stressed that regulation must evolve alongside the industry, given the growing applications of drones in agriculture, environmental monitoring, mining, surveying, mapping and infrastructure inspection.
Partnership
The acting Deputy Director General in charge of Finance and Administration at GCAA, Gordon Nuurbaare, said the GCAA would continue to leverage international partnerships to strengthen its regulatory capacity and address emerging challenges in the drone industry.
He said the authority particularly valued collaboration in areas such as training, certification, capacity building and access to relevant international standards.
Global cooperation
The Chairperson of JARUS, Falk Gotten, said international cooperation was essential to developing effective regulations for the rapidly growing drone industry.
He said JARUS had supported countries, including Brazil, in developing drone regulations from the ground up.
He stressed that the adoption of the SORA methodology by more jurisdictions demonstrated the importance of sharing regulatory experience.
