The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has rolled out new steps to tackle extortion at Ghana’s airports. The plan includes a “mystery shopping” drive, harsher penalties, and a direct hotline for the public to report offenders.
The announcement followed a major stakeholder engagement held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, focused on ending what GACL called the “unacceptable practice of extortion (begging)” across all airports under its control.
In a statement, GACL said parties at the meeting agreed to launch a “mystery shopping” scheme. Under it, people caught demanding illegal payments will be named publicly through the media.
“This ‘name and shame’ approach is intended to discourage such conduct and reinforce accountability among all personnel operating at the airports,” part of the statement read.
The company stated that staff found guilty will be disciplined and “will no longer be allowed to work in any airport or within its environs”.
To support enforcement, GACL has also set up a dedicated reporting line – 0542175636 (Call, WhatsApp or SMS) – for travellers to report extortion. The system covers staff from several agencies and service providers at the terminals, including the Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Police Service, National Security, airlines, ground handlers, concessionaires, private security companies, car park operators and airport contractors.
Complainants are required to provide the date and time of the incident, the officer’s name, the agency involved and where it happened.The action comes as Ghana pushes to boost its standing as a key aviation and logistics hub in West Africa.Travellers and investors have for years complained about unofficial payments and solicitation by some airport staff.
These have been blamed for hurting passenger experience and damaging Ghana’s ease-of-doing-business image. For airlines, investors and tourism players, raising service standards and ending extortion could build trust in Ghana’s aviation sector and help grow passenger numbers.The initiative also fits into wider efforts to improve governance and accountability in airport operations by boosting transparency, tightening enforcement and getting passengers more involved in reporting wrongdoing.
With mystery shoppers, public reporting, and tougher sanctions, GACL is showing a firmer approach to protect the integrity of operations and safeguard the reputation of Ghana’s airports as the country expands its role in regional air travel and aviation services.
Background
GACL has already fired two car park attendants at Kotoka International Airport for extorting money from passengers.The company said the dismissals followed repeated passenger complaints and the successful identification of those responsible for the misconduct.
