President John Dramani Mahama has thrown his weight behind efforts by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to clamp down on workers soliciting or begging visitors for tips, describing the practice as damaging to Ghana’s international image.
The President made the remarks during a sod-cutting ceremony for the Multi-Tiered, Multi-Purpose Car Park and Airport Hotels Complex at the Accra International Airport on Thursday, August 27, 2026 . He called on all workers within the aviation sector to uphold professionalism, discipline, and hospitality, emphasising that every interaction shapes visitors’ perception of Ghana.
Image and Professionalism at the Forefront
“Every institution and every worker at this airport contributes to Ghana’s image. 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,” President Mahama stated . He stressed the need to cultivate a culture of professionalism across the entire aviation value chain.
Expressing satisfaction with the current direction, the President said, “I’m happy that the Ghana Airports Company Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority 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” .
GACL’s Enforcement Measures
The President’s comments come amid an active enforcement campaign by GACL. The company has already dismissed two car park workers for engaging in the practice of soliciting tips from passengers . GACL has also introduced a dedicated hotline (0542175636) for passengers to report extortion and has implemented a “mystery shopping” system to secretly assess the conduct of airport personnel . Workers found engaging in such conduct face disciplinary action and public identification .
Multi-Billion-Cedi Infrastructure Investment
The sod-cutting ceremony marked the commencement of a major infrastructure project aimed at modernising the airport . The seven-storey development will provide approximately 2,030 covered parking bays, two hotels (a 120-room five-star and a 250-room three-star), and a pedestrian connector linking the complex to the terminal . The complex will also feature a shopping mall with a food court, retail and office spaces, a sky lounge, and an aircraft-viewing sky observatory .
President Mahama noted that passenger traffic at the airport had risen from 1.8 million in 2022 to 2.5 million in 2025, placing significant pressure on existing facilities . He said the project is part of a broader strategy to position Ghana as a competitive aviation hub in West Africa, and noted that ongoing airport projects are being financed entirely from the balance sheets of the GCAA and GACL without direct government funding .
Context: The President’s remarks were also made against the backdrop of a broader government push to enhance the country’s competitiveness, with ministers and authorities increasingly focused on improving customer service standards and the overall experience for travellers in Ghana.
