The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has banned two Port Health officers from working at the Accra International Airport and all other airports under its management after they were caught extorting money from a passenger, in the first major disciplinary action under its renewed crackdown on corruption at the country’s airports.
The officers, who were stationed at Terminal 3 of the Accra International Airport, were found on August 5 to have charged a foreign passport holder US$40 for a Yellow Fever Card instead of the approved US$20 fee.
In a statement issued yesterday, GACL announced that the officers’ identification cards had been withdrawn and deactivated, effectively barring them from operating at any airport managed by the company.
“As of Thursday, August 6, 2026, the two officers are no longer permitted to work at Accra International Airport or any other GACL-operated airport,” the statement said.
The sanctions come barely 24 hours after GACL unveiled a raft of measures aimed at eliminating extortion and other unethical practices at the country’s airports.
The latest action is the first known enforcement measure following a stakeholder meeting convened by GACL on August 5 to address what it described as the “unacceptable practice of extortion (begging)” by personnel operating within airport facilities.
At the meeting, stakeholders agreed to introduce a “mystery shopping” initiative, under which undercover operatives will monitor service delivery and identify officials who demand or receive unauthorised payments from passengers.
The company also announced a “name and shame” policy intended to expose officers found engaging in extortion as part of efforts to deter misconduct and strengthen accountability.
According to GACL, personnel found culpable will face disciplinary sanctions and will no longer be allowed to work at any airport or within airport premises.
In a related development, the company disclosed that it had taken note of a viral video showing a Ghana Immigration Service officer allegedly demanding money for “breakfast” from a traveller.
GACL said the Ghana Immigration Service had confirmed that the officer featured in the video had since been transferred from the airport.
The company stressed that the latest sanctions underscore its commitment to enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on extortion and warned that surveillance and enforcement measures would continue across all airports under its management.
“Everyone is being watched,” the statement cautioned.
As part of efforts to improve passenger experience and protect Ghana’s aviation reputation, GACL has also established a dedicated public reporting hotline through which travellers can report incidents of extortion and misconduct.
It urged passengers to support the campaign by reporting any officials who solicit unauthorised payments, adopting the slogan: “Spot it. Record it. Report it.”
A Daily Guide Report