Charles Akoto Lamptey Jnr
A private legal practitioner, Charles Akoto Lamptey Jnr. has called on President John Dramani Mahama to reconstruct the Accra International Airport Terminal 2 instead of renovating the facility.
Justifying his call, Lawyer Lamptey Jnr. said the ongoing contract for works on the Terminal 2 raises serious concerns over procurement integrity, economic efficiency, and national infrastructure planning.
He contends that the nature of the works—including leak repairs, ceiling replacements, and structural patching—amounts to refurbishment and not ‘repurposing’ as suggested by the government.
“This distinction is not merely semantic,” the petition stated. “Mischaracterising refurbishment as repurposing risks distorting the basis upon which contracts are awarded and public funds justified.”
According to the petitioner, while the country has consistently expressed its ambition to become a leading aviation hub in West Africa, such a vision cannot be achieved through incremental upgrades.
“The choice before us is not technical, but strategic,” Lawyer Lamptey Jnr. stated. “Do we invest in future-ready infrastructure, or continue allocating scarce resources to short-term fixes?”
Economic Risks
The legal practitioner further warned that refurbishing the Terminal 2 may ultimately prove to be a costly misstep. While often presented as a cost-saving option, the petition describes refurbishment as a “false economy,” arguing that legacy facilities were not designed to meet modern aviation demands.
“Repeated retrofitting, the petitioner notes, could lead to escalating maintenance costs, operational inefficiencies, and limited revenue potential. In contrast, reconstruction, though more capital-intensive, is said to offer long-term value through improved efficiency, scalability, and commercial viability,” he said.
The petition also raised concerns about the potential impact on Terminal 3, warning that splitting passenger traffic across multiple suboptimal terminals could undermine its return on investment and weaken the country’s competitiveness as a regional aviation hub.
Legal & Governance Implications
Citing Ghana’s legal framework, the petitioner referenced the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), which require public funds to be used efficiently and procurement processes to be transparent and value-driven.
The continued investment in a facility previously deemed obsolete, the lawyer argued, could expose public officials to audit queries, disallowances, and possible surcharges under Ghana’s accountability regime.
“Public institutions must not only act lawfully, but also demonstrate consistency with prior evidence-based decisions,” the petition emphasised.
Lawyer Lamptey Jnr. further highlighted national security implications. Modern airport terminals, he said, function as integrated systems incorporating biometric processing, baggage handling, and surveillance technologies.
As part of the petition, Lawyer Lamptey Jnr. has made a formal request to the Ghana Airports Company Limited under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), seeking access to key documents related to the Terminal 2 project.
These include engineering assessments, board decisions, procurement records, and contractor details.
The aim, according to the petitioner, is to ensure transparency and accountability in decisions involving public funds and critical national infrastructure.