What is the primary responsibility of a ground controller in air traffic management?

The primary responsibility of a ground controller in air traffic management is indeed to manage all movements on the airport ground except for active runways. This includes guiding aircraft on taxiways, ensuring that they are moving efficiently and safely to and from the terminals, and coordinating the movements of service vehicles and personnel on the ground.

Ground controllers focus on directing aircraft from the moment they exit the runway until they reach their parking position and vice versa. Their role is crucial for maintaining an organized flow of traffic on the airport surface, preventing conflicts, and ensuring that all operations occur within safety protocols.

Other responsibilities, such as directing aircraft during takeoff and landing, primarily belong to tower controllers, while monitoring in-flight operations and coordinating with other air traffic control sectors relate more to enroute or approach controllers. Ground controllers specifically concentrate on the movements on the airport surface, which makes the answer about managing all ground movements the most accurate description of their primary duty.