The Republic of Liberia has reinforced its growing reputation as a critical hub for aviation safety and regulatory excellence in West Africa by officially convening the 8th Technical Regulatory Review Meeting of the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organization (BAGASOO).

The five-day summit, held from November 24–28, 2025, at the RLJ Kendeja Resort and Villas, brings together senior aviation regulators, safety experts, and technical specialists from BAGASOO member states.

The collective objective is to finalize and advance a common regulatory framework necessary to strengthen regional safety oversight and ensure full compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

Commitment to Global Benchmarks

In his keynote address during the opening ceremony, Honorable Julius D. Dennis, Jr., Director General of the LCAA, reaffirmed Liberia's unwavering commitment to regulatory excellence. He welcomed the delegates, noting that the choice of Liberia, the "free land of liberty" reflects the nation’s dedication to collaboration and regional leadership within the aviation community. "Achieving full regulatory compliance with international standards is fundamental to effective aviation safety and security oversight," Hon. Dennis stated.

He encouraged participants to engage meaningfully in discussions, knowing that their contributions will directly shape the regulatory transformation and competitive future of the region's aviation sector.

The Mandate for Harmonization

Mr. F. Augustine C. Tamba, Deputy Director General for Technical Services at the LCAA, emphasized the critical necessity of regulatory harmonization, defining it as the central pillar of BAGASOO’s mandate.

“Our ongoing regional initiatives are designed to ensure that when one examines a regulation from Liberia and one from Ghana or Sierra Leone, the only difference is the name of the state,” Mr. Tamba explained. He highlighted Liberia’s timely commitment, noting the country is actively updating its national aviation laws to fully align with regional and international standards.

Regulatory Roadmap and Future Strategy

Representing the BAGASOO Secretariat, Mr. Jacob Idaewor, Director for Technical Support and Training, conveyed greetings and detailed the meeting’s core agenda. He underscored the role of the Technical Committee Regulatory as the "backbone of BAGASOO's policy development," responsible for providing crucial guidance to the Board and reviewing all regulatory instruments prior to adoption.

Mr. Idaewor announced that the previous session successfully formulated a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for regulatory harmonization across all aviation disciplines. Delegates in Monrovia will spend the sessions reviewing the implementation plan of this roadmap, focusing on critical domains including:

Personnel Licensing

Airworthiness

Flight Operations

Aerodromes

Air Navigation Services

He emphasized that harmonized regulations are key to creating a fair, safe, and competitive operating environment for regional air operators, facilitating resource sharing, and accelerating the realization of a unified African air transport market.

The deliberations are being efficiently presided over by the Chairperson of the Technical Committee Regulatory, Engr. Godwin G. Balang.

The outcomes of the Monrovia meeting are expected to decisively pave the way for the next phase of regulatory convergence across BAGASOO member states, ensuring the region remains ahead of evolving ICAO standards.