The Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) has clinched two prestigious recognitions at the Global Business Awards 2025, emerging as the Best Regional Aircraft Accident Investigation Agency in Africa, and the Capacity Building & Aviation Safety Group 2025 (West Africa).
Presented by Corporate Vision, the awards spotlight BAGAIA’s leadership in aviation safety oversight and capacity development, especially during challenging periods like the COVID-19 pandemic, when the agency continued operations through a mix of virtual and on-site missions across member states.
Through these efforts, BAGAIA championed the establishment of independent Accident Investigation Authorities (AIAs) in member states, helping five out of seven countries align with ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative.
BAGAIA Commissioner, Charles Erhueh, acknowledged the honour with both pride and humour:
“It’s humbling and a little amusing because technically, we’re the only regional aircraft accident investigation agency in West Africa, maybe even Africa. But that just means the impact we’re making is being recognised on its own merit”.
The agency’s achievements include a technical support mission to Sierra Leone, which increased the country’s Effective Implementation (EI) of its Aircraft Incident Investigation Group (AIG) from 11.11% to 40.96%.
A peer-reviewed evaluation in Nigeria also resulted in a boost to its AIG’s EI score. In Namibia, BAGAIA’s support improved the AIG’s EI from 70% to 79.01%, surpassing the global average.
Beyond audits and assessments, BAGAIA has trained over 450 accident investigators, strengthening regional capacity across West Africa and beyond.
It has also led the development of critical regulatory frameworks, such as the BAGAIA Safety Investigation Regulations and the BAGAIA Investigation Policies and Procedures Manual (BIPPM). The agency’s collaborative efforts include hosting regional meetings, forming strategic partnerships, and launching an online platform to foster transparency and knowledge exchange.
While the award title may sound like a “no-contest” category, Erhueh insists it’s no less meaningful.
“Recognition like this shows that Africa has something to say in global aviation safety. And we’re just getting started”.
With a steady track record of advocacy, reforms, and training, BAGAIA is cementing its role as a cornerstone of aviation safety in Africa.
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Beyond audits and assessments, BAGAIA has trained over 450 accident investigators, strengthening regional capacity across West Africa and beyond.
It has also led the development of critical regulatory frameworks, such as the BAGAIA Safety Investigation Regulations and the BAGAIA Investigation Policies and Procedures Manual (BIPPM). The agency’s collaborative efforts include hosting regional meetings, forming strategic partnerships, and launching an online platform to foster transparency and knowledge exchange.
While the award title may sound like a “no-contest” category, Erhueh insists it’s no less meaningful.
“Recognition like this shows that Africa has something to say in global aviation safety. And we’re just getting started”.
With a steady track record of advocacy, reforms, and training, BAGAIA is cementing its role as a cornerstone of aviation safety in Africa.