McDan Aviation Appoints Emmanuel Asonga Akatue As Chief Operations Officer

Management of McDan Aviation, a subsidiary of the McDan Group of Companies has appointed one of Ghana’s seasoned aviation engineers, Emmanuel Asonga Akatue as its Chief Operations Officer (COO).

Mr Emmanuel Asonga Akatue has over 4 decades experience in the aviation industry in Ghana and across the globe.

Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group, Kwaku Ampromfi who announced the appointment at a brief ceremony in Accra expressed optimism that Mr Asonga Akatue will bring his rich industry experience to bare in his new role to positively propel the fortunes of the company to higher heights.

He described the COO as affable, experienced, well connected and a non-biased individual who will effectively coordinate the various segments of the McDan Aviation even as the company strives to cut a niche for itself as the market leader with an excellent customer experience.

Mr Ampromfi is hopeful that Mr Akatue will provide the needed direction to enhance the profitability of the company.

The new COO in his acceptance speech thanked management for the confidence reposed in him and assured of his determination to provide the needed leadership to cut down on losses and improve revenue.

He described the McDan Aviation team as one of the best in the Ghanaian aviation industry who are poised to do more for the growth of the country’s air transport space.

Mr Asonga Akatue who is an airworthiness expert acknowledge pilots as the most important people in the industry and indicated his resolve to help improve the welfare of pilots working with McDan Aviation in order to improve on the gains made.

He pledged to ensure a reliable, available and punctual aircraft services at all times at to the service of the customer in a comfortable and in a congenial atmosphere with excellent customer service compared to no other.

Until his appointment as COO, Mr Asonga Akatue was the CEO of AVIAMS Consult limited and an Independent Aviation Consultant.

He has since 2022 provided consultancy services to McDan Aviation leading to the issuance of an AOC by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority for the company to operate Commercial Charter Services.

Mr Akatue also helped in the recruitment of most of the best brains in the industry who are currently working with the company.

FBO Manager, Sharon Odoi-Atsem on behalf of the staff of McDan Aviation was full of praise to the new COO who has been of immense help to the company.

She assured of the readiness of the staff to offer the needed coorporation and support to Mr Asonga Atakue to achieve his vision for McDan Aviation.

Profile of Mr Emmanuel Asonga Akatue

Mr Emmanuel Asonga Akatue holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 1982 and an MBA in Finance from the University of Ghana in 1991.

He joined the Ghana Army (Air Force) in 1983 and rose through the ranks as an aviation engineer over a two decade period to become Deputy Director Engineering until his voluntary retirement in 2004 as Wing Commander.

After his retirement from the Army in 2004, Emmanuel joined the Ghana Civil Aviation (GCA) as Aviation Safety Inspector and later Director Safety Regulation from 2005 to 2010.

Mr Asonga Akatue became the Executive Director of the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), a Regional Safety Oversight Organization with its Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria.

He was subsequently engaged as the Technical Consultant to the Ghana Civil Aviation for the provision of technical services towards ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) Audit between 2018 and 2019, engaged as ICAO Consultant to assist in the development of the Global Aviation Safety Oversight System (GASOS) programme variously between 2018 and 2020, engaged by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2020 where he provided part-time expertise to develop an Overview Roadmap and Implementation Plan among other services in the Framework of EU South Asia Aviation Partnership project.

Emmanuel holds the FAA Airframe and Power Plant Licence and the Ghana Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence with several aircraft maintenance type training qualification including helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

He has attended several of the core Aviation Qualification Courses, workshops and conferences across the globe.

 He is a qualified ICAO Training Instructor and is credited with masterminding the development of the web based Safety Information Management Tools; ITRAQS, FASAP and ISATS for use by both Member States of the Banjul Accord Group and non-member States.

Mr Emmanuel Asonga Akatue has taught aviation related courses in several countries including Ghana, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Kenya, Singapore and Morocco.

From 2019 to date, he teaches Aviation Law and Regulations, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Techniques for MSc Air Transport and Aviation programme at his Alma Mata, KNUST.

McDan Aviation which first entered Ghana’s air travel space in February 2007 is the market leader in non-scheduled air-cargo services to its clients.

The company which currently operates three private jets and a helicopter provides services such as private jet charter to individuals to any destination of the world and a helicopter Services for touring, air ambulance, bullion services among others.

It also offers other Fixed Base Operator services including passenger handling, aircraft fueling and maintenance, aircraft handling and ground administration services.

McDan Aviation also provides priority immigration services including visa on arrival, lounge services, luxury car rentals, spa services, fine dining upon request, ground handling services, rump services and may more.

By: Christian Kpesese/www.eagleghana.com