The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has set up a task force to commence investigation into some reported extortion of money on passengers at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

“The attention of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has been drawn to allegations of coercion and extortion by uniformed personnel working at the Kotoka International Airport. Such practices are highly unprofessional, unethical and unacceptable. 

The Authority has set up a task force to investigate the matter and in the same vein, has requested the Ghana Airports Company (GACL) Ltd to put measures in place to curb such practices,” a statement signed by the Director General of the GCAA Simon Allotey said.

Firm action

Earlier, the acting Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) also gave a firm assurance that his outfit is going to tighten measures to end the era of officials extorting monies from travellers at the Airport.

Acting Managing Director of the GACL, Yaw Kwakwa said although their systems have failed in the past, they are going to ensure such malpractices end. 

He said, “You can put in processes to check certain activities, however, before long you realize that those structures are not working. But I can assure you that we are tightening our processes and structures to arrest this issue for that behaviour at the airport to cease.”

GCAA has there advised the public “not to give in to pleas, coercion or extortion of money by any personnel operating at the Kotoka International Airport and should report such conduct to the Consumer complaints unit within the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority,” the statement added.