Patrick Yaw Boamah
A sharp dispute erupted in Parliament on Tuesday after the Minority exposed what they described as a concealed attempt by the government to increase Airport Passenger Service Charges (APSC) from GH¢5 to as high as GH¢150.
The controversy unfolded as the House approved a combined budget of more than GH¢8.33 billion for the Ministries of Roads and Highways, Transport, and Works, Housing and Water Resources for the 2026 fiscal year. The allocation includes GH¢5.38 billion for Roads and Highways, GH¢1.5 billion for Transport, and GH¢1.46 billion for Works, Housing and Water Resources.
Debate on the Transport Ministry’s budget was dominated by the Minority’s objections to the proposed airport fee hikes.
Raising the issue, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei Central and Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Patrick Boamah, accused the government of attempting to “smuggle” the increases into the budget without proper legislative scrutiny.
According to him, while domestic passengers will continue to pay GH¢5, international passengers, who currently also pay GH¢5, are set to face steep new charges of GH¢100 for economy and GH¢150 for business class, with even higher proposals reportedly under consideration.
He described the move as “insensitive,” arguing that ordinary international travellers would suffer the most. Mr. Boamah insisted that any revision of fees must be brought before Parliament under the Fees and Charges Bill, which matured in November.
“This is news to me and to the committee,” he said, requesting that the Transport Ministry’s report be stepped down for clarity.
He further criticised the ministry’s performance under the government’s much-touted 24-Hour Economy programme, revealing that by September last year, only 26% of its approved GH¢160.5 million capital budget had been released, with no expenditure recorded on planned projects.
Minister Responds
Transport Minister, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, rejected claims of a hidden increase, clarifying that the committee had only suggested considering an upward review because the APSC had remained unchanged since 2014.
He explained that the charges were originally set in dollars and later converted into cedis, and any adjustment would still have to pass through the Fees and Charges Bill.
“The House is only being invited to consider it. Nothing has been increased yet,” the minister assured.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House