The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has announced a tougher enforcement regime against extortion at the country’s airports, introducing a “name and shame” strategy, mystery shopping operations and stricter disciplinary sanctions for offending personnel.
The new measures were agreed at a high-level stakeholder facilitation meeting held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, as part of efforts to eliminate extortion and solicitation of money from passengers at airports managed by GACL.
Under the initiative, mystery shoppers will be deployed to monitor the conduct of personnel operating at airport terminals, while individuals found engaging in extortionary practices may be publicly identified through appropriate media channels.
According to GACL, the approach is intended to deter misconduct and strengthen accountability across airport operations.
The company also warned that personnel found guilty of extortion would face disciplinary action and could be barred permanently from working at any airport or within airport premises.
To support enforcement, GACL has established a dedicated public reporting hotline — 0542175636 — through which passengers can report incidents of extortion by phone call, WhatsApp or SMS.
The reporting mechanism covers personnel from several agencies and service providers operating at airports, including the Ghana Immigration Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, the Ghana Police Service, National Security, airlines, ground handling companies, private security firms, concessionaires, car park operators and airport contractors.
Passengers submitting complaints are expected to provide details such as the date and time of the incident, the name of the officer involved, the relevant agency and the location where the incident occurred.
GACL said the measures are part of broader efforts to improve transparency, service standards and operational integrity within Ghana’s aviation sector.
The initiative comes amid longstanding complaints from travellers and investors about unofficial payments and solicitation by some airport personnel, which have been seen as damaging to passenger experience and Ghana’s reputation as a regional aviation and logistics hub.
The company recently dismissed two car park workers at Kotoka International Airport after investigations confirmed repeated complaints that they had demanded money from passengers.
Speaking during a visit by Parliament’s Committee on Roads and Transportation on August 4, GACL Managing Director Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare said the dismissals demonstrated the company’s commitment to taking swift action against extortion.
She urged the public to continue reporting misconduct to help improve professionalism and accountability across airport operations.
With the introduction of mystery shopping, public reporting channels and tougher sanctions, GACL is seeking to restore confidence in Ghana’s airports and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in regional air transport and tourism.
