The Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) recently announced that they are suspending the discussion of a $20 charge on all round-trip airline tickets for travellers using the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
The company stated that further meetings about the matter will no longer proceed.
Earlier this year, GACL sent a letter to travellers using KIA, stating that they would need to pay $20 to cover the cost of baggage belt repairs and maintenance work at the airport starting May 1, 2024.
The management also informed the Chairperson of the Airport Operators Committee of the Kotoka International Airport that the new fee would be implemented for travellers departing from the airport and that it would apply to all round-trip tickets.
However, the company faced public backlash for imposing the charges without parliamentary approval. The legislative body summoned the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, to provide urgent answers to Members of Parliament (MP) over the alleged new charge by the GACL as maintenance fees.
The MP for Tamale South constituency and former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, described the charge as illegal since Parliament had not approved it.
He asked what authority the Ghana Airport Company had to impose fees and whether the charges were consistent with the Fees Act approved by the Parliament of Ghana.
Meanwhile, the MP for the Nhyiaeso Constituency, Dr Stephen Amoah, cautioned the Minority against politicising the move and supported the idea of the Transport Minister answering questions on the development.
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.
