The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has announced a series of measures aimed at eliminating extortion and other unacceptable practices at airports across the country.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, August 5, GACL said the decision followed a High-Level Stakeholder Facilitation Meeting held the same day to address growing concerns over extortion, commonly described as begging, by personnel operating at GACL-managed airports.
According to the company, stakeholders agreed to introduce several interventions, including a “mystery shopping” initiative under which individuals would anonymously visit airport facilities and publicly report incidents of extortion through appropriate media channels.
GACL said the initiative is intended to discourage such conduct and strengthen accountability among all personnel working at the airports.
The company warned that any staff member found engaging in extortion would face disciplinary action and would no longer be allowed to work at any airport or within its environs.
As part of the measures, GACL has also established a dedicated hotline, 0542175636, which members of the travelling public can use through calls, WhatsApp or SMS to report incidents of extortion.
The reporting mechanism covers personnel from a wide range of agencies and service providers operating at the airports, including the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Police Service, National Security, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Airport Clinic Limited, airlines, ground handling companies, plant quarantine, veterinary services, Port Health, Narcotics Control Commission, concessionaires, private security companies, janitorial and waste management services, car park operators and foreign exchange bureaus.
GACL advised passengers making reports to provide the date and time of the incident, the name of the officer involved, the agency the officer represents and the location where the incident occurred.
The company also reminded travellers that they have the right to request the official airport identification card of anyone claiming to represent an airport agency in order to verify their identity.
The reporting mechanism covers personnel from a wide range of agencies and service providers operating at the airports, including the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Police Service, National Security, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Airport Clinic Limited, airlines, ground handling companies, plant quarantine, veterinary services, Port Health, Narcotics Control Commission, concessionaires, private security companies, janitorial and waste management services, car park operators and foreign exchange bureaus.
Passengers were further encouraged to insist on receipts for all payments made at the airport and to report any suspicious requests for money through the dedicated hotline.
GACL said it would continue working with all airport stakeholders to safeguard the reputation of Ghana’s airports and advance its vision of positioning the country as the preferred aviation hub and leader in airport business in West Africa.
GACL advised passengers making reports to provide the date and time of the incident, the name of the officer involved, the agency the officer represents and the location where the incident occurred.
The company also reminded travellers that they have the right to request the official airport identification card of anyone claiming to represent an airport agency in order to verify their identity.
