President Mahama appoints Rev. Stephen Wilfred Arthur as acting GCAA Director-General

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur, an aviation economist and policy expert, as the acting Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), marking a leadership shift in the nation’s air transport sector.

Rev. Arthur, who brings over three decades of experience in aviation regulation, business development, and strategic planning, assumes the top role with a clear mandate to reinforce Ghana’s status as a regional aviation hub while advancing operational safety, regulatory excellence, and innovation.

In his new position, Rev. Arthur is expected to spearhead initiatives that align with the government’s broader vision for sustained growth in the aviation industry.

Before this appointment, Rev. Arthur served as Director of Economic Regulation and Business Development at the GCAA from January 2019 to March 2025. During that period, he led several initiatives involving policy formulation, compliance monitoring, budget oversight and strategic stakeholder engagement.

Rev. Arthur's earlier career includes stints as Manager of Business Development and Statistics, where he conducted economic audits of airlines and evaluated air carrier business models, and roles in corporate planning and finance, where he shaped financial reporting systems, budgeting strategies and investment appraisals.

Internationally, he has represented Ghana at numerous International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assemblies and Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) negotiations. He also plays a critical role on key aviation bodies, including the ICAO Facilitation Panel and the African Civil Aviation Commission’s Working Group on the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Domestically, he chairs Ghana’s Steering Committee for the Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems project.

Rev. Arthur holds an executive MBA from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration from the University of Ghana. He has also completed professional training in air transport economics, senior aviation management and strategic airport governance at prestigious institutions such as IATA and the Singapore Aviation Academy. He is a fellow of the Global Association of Certified Chartered Economists.

Among his contributions to Ghana’s aviation sector are the drafting of consumer protection directives, the establishment of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee, and the implementation of a comprehensive economic surveillance programme to monitor industry performance and sustainability.

Respected within international and local aviation circles for his deep expertise and regulatory insight, Rev. Arthur is also known for his pastoral work. He is the founder and leader of Kingdom Family International, a Christian-based church.