Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has been summoned to provide urgent answers to Members of Parliament (MP) over an alleged new charge by the Ghana Airport Company (GACL) as maintenance fees.

Starting May 1, 2024, travelers using the Kotoka International Airport in Accra will be required to pay a fee of $20 for maintenance work and help cover the cost of baggage belt repairs.

In a letter from the management of the GACL to the Chairperson of the Airport Operators Committee of the Kotoka International Airport, it was announced that a new fee will be implemented for travelers departing from the airport.

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The letter dated March 11, 2024, signed by the Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited, Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare stated the fee will apply to all round-trip tickets.

In addition to announcing the $20 round-trip airline ticket fee, the GACL also specified that $10 of the fee will be charged to each leg of the trip.

"Further to discussions with the executives of the Airport Operators Committee regarding our baggage belt overhauling and maintenance issues, the Board of Directors of Ghana Airports Company Limited, in consultation with the Ministry of Transport, is instituting a maintenance charge of $20 on all round-trip airline tickets ($10 to be charged each way". 

Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, who raised the issue on the floor, described the charge as illegal since Parliament had not approved it.

MP for Nhyiaeso Dr Stephen Amoah cautioned the Minority against politicising the move.

However, he did not oppose calls to bring the Transport Minister before the House to answer questions.

First Deputy Speaker Andrew Amoako Asiamah, who presided over the House, ruled that the Transport Minister should appear before MPs to answer questions on the development on March 19.