President John Dramani Mahama has commended the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Airports Company for taking a firm stance against the practice of soliciting tips from passengers and visitors at the Accra International Airport.
He noted that the conduct tarnishes Ghana’s image and undermines efforts to deliver a professional and welcoming experience for travelers.
“The welcome at immigration, the efficiency of baggage handling, the cleanliness of our facilities, the management of traffic and the courtesy of service providers all shape the visitors first and last impressions of our country.
We must therefore cultivate a culture of professionalism, discipline and hospitality across the aviation value chain. I’m happy that the Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Civil Aviation Limited and other institutions working at the airport are taking a tough stance against soliciting and begging visitors for tips. It reflects very badly on our country,” he stated.
The President made these remarks at the sod cutting ceremony for the multi-purpose, multi-tiered car park and airport hotels complex at the Accra International Airport on August 27, describing the project as a strategic investment to prepare Ghana’s principal international gateway for future growth.
The property will feature two hotels, a pedestrian connector to the terminal, more than 2,000 car park space, a shopping mall with a food court, retail and office spaces, as well as a sky lounge and sky observatory for aircraft viewing.
The President noted that the passenger traffic through the Accra International Airport had risen from 1.8 million in 2022 to 2.5 million in 2025.
“Indeed, this development will consolidate the Accra International Airport’s operation as a true 24-hour facility. Technology will be central to this project. The parking system will incorporate automatic number plate recognition. The parking lot will be cashless and ticketless. Parking guidance systems will be available.
Electric vehicle charging points will be available. So, if you’re using an EV, you can charge it and there’ll be a centralized CCTV surveillance system that can observe everything that is happening in the parking lot,” President Mahama further noted.
He added that, “Placing significant pressure on parking facilities, airport roads and passenger pickup and drop-off areas, the new developments at the airport are all without government financing. The government of Ghana has not given any of the two institutions one single cedi for these projects.
He commended the Minister of Transport and all those associated with this project.
“This is what we want to see. Develop our country but don’t go to Ato Forson and ask for money,” he stressed.
