TIG Post

Tag: KIA

  • We have not imposed $7 charge for luggage fumigation at KIA – GACL

    We have not imposed $7 charge for luggage fumigation at KIA – GACL

    The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has refuted claims regarding its alleged plan to impose a $7 fee for fumigating passengers’ luggage at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    Recent media reports had suggested that the Ghana Health Service was urging airlines to include a $7 charge per passenger on international airline tickets and submit the amount to the government agency, KIA, as a luggage fumigation fee.

    However, the management of GACL has released a statement clarifying that it has no intention of imposing such charges or taxes on passengers for luggage fumigation purposes.

    “GACL wishes to assure the general public that it will not impose any such taxes or charges on passengers for luggage fumigation purposes as reported.”

    “All reports to the contrary should therefore be disregarded,” the GACL added.

  • NACOC seizes $127K cannabis at KIA

    NACOC seizes $127K cannabis at KIA

    The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), has seized $127K cannabis at the Kotoka International Airport cargo terminal.

    The cannabis weighing about 12.67KG was intercepted on Wednesday, May 23.

    The consignment was bound for the United Kingdom when the Commission detected it in KIA’s scanning room during routine duties.

    In a statement signed by NACOC’s Public Affairs and International Relations Department, it indicated that “a field test conducted on the substances proved positive for cannabis.”

    The Commission says it has taken custody of the seized consignment, adding that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

    “The Commission would like to use this medium to remind the general public that the possession and transportation of illicit drugs without lawful authorization is illegal and punishable under sections 40 (1) and 41 (1) of Act 1019 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020. “

    NACOC assured the general public that it is committed to collaborating with all relevant institutions in minimising the drug trafficking threat to the country.

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  • KIA, Tema Harbour to be handed to China in debt default – Captain Smart alleges

    KIA, Tema Harbour to be handed to China in debt default – Captain Smart alleges

    Broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart popularly known as Captain Smart is alleging that Ghana could lose the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and the Tema Harbour to China should it default on its loans.

    He is said to have made the assertion while speaking on Maakye Thursday, May 25, 2023.

    According to him, China has turned its attention from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation as it is allegedly no longer profitable.

    This comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed that in the event that Ghana defaults in the payment of some four loans to China, the country will lose its sales of electricity and the revenue accrued from the exportation of its minerals.

    Collateralized debt is any contracted or guaranteed debt that gives the creditor the rights over an asset or revenue stream that would allow it, if the borrower defaults on its payment obligations, to rely on the asset or revenue stream to secure repayment of the debt, the IMF defines.

    The Fund revealed that collateralized debt, entirely held by China, accounts for only 2.0 percent of external debt. And this corresponds to 4 loan agreements signed in 2007-18 that amount to US$619 million (0.9 percent of GDP) to finance infrastructure projects.

    “These are collateralized against commodity production (cocoa, bauxite and oil) and electricity sales,” the IMF report stated.

    It is reported that Captain Smart made this projection three months before the IMF made the revelation.

    As at the end of 2022, Ghana owed China $1.9 billion out of which $619 million were collateralized loans.

    A 2022 report by the South China Morning Post disclosed that Uganda will be taking funds generated from its International Airport to pay China for defaulting its debt/

    According to the report, the repayment terms on a $200 million loan to expand Uganda’s International Airport forced the Ugandan government to repay its debt before funding public services.

    “Under the loan from China’s Exim Bank to modernise the Entebbe airport, the Ugandan government is required to channel all revenue from the country’s only international airport into an account held jointly with the lender, according to the contract published Monday by AidData,” reports the South China Morning Post.

  • 74 Ghanaians evacuated from Sudan arrive at KIA

    74 Ghanaians evacuated from Sudan arrive at KIA

    Seventy-four Ghanaian who caught up in the conflict happening in Sudan have arrived at Kotoka International Airport.

    On Tuesday, April 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration successfully organised the safe transfer of 76 Ghanaians from the Republic of Sudan to Ethiopia. Following that, on Tuesday, May 2, 74 of them were evacuated to Ghana.

    The airport’s Terminal 3 welcome lounge was a happy place for the individuals and their families.

    The Deputy Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong was also there to welcome the citizens.

    Sudan has been gripped by a deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, resulting in avoidable casualties in the past week which has forced many countries to evacuate their citizens from the country.

  • FULL TEXT: Kamala Harris’ message to Ghanaians

    FULL TEXT: Kamala Harris’ message to Ghanaians

    US Vice President Kamala Harris‘ speech upon her arrival at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Sunday, March 26, 2023:

    On behalf of the president and our entire nation, we bring you greetings and we are looking forward to this trip and the very important relationship and friendship between the people of the United States and those who live on the continent of Africa.

    I’m very excited about the future of Africa. I’m very excited about the impact of the future of Africa on the rest of the world, including the United States of America. When I look at what is happening on this continent and the fact that the median age is 19 years old and what that tells us about the growth of opportunity, of innovation, of possibilities, I see in all of that great opportunity, not only for the people of this continent but the people of the world.

    Especially when we understand that by the year 2050, we believe one in four people on earth will be on the continent of Africa. The partnership between this continent, its people and the people of the United States and reinforces the work that we will continue to do together. Be that on addressing the climate crisis, to supply chains to our work together on international rules and norms.

    In particular, on this trip, I intend to do work that is focused on increasing investments here on the continent and facilitating economic growth and opportunity specifically in the areas of economic empowerment of women and girls. Empowerment of youth. Entrepreneurship, digital inclusion, and supporting the work that must be done to increase food security, including adaptation to the effects of the climate crisis.

    I look forward to my meetings with President Nana Akufo-Addo, President Suluhu Samiya and President Hichilema. We will build on the previous meetings I have had with each of them to strengthen democracy and good governance, promote peace and security, build on long-term economic growth, and strengthen our business ties.

    I also look forward during this visit to meeting with entrepreneurs and artists and students and farmers to witness firsthand the extraordinary innovation and creativity that is occurring on this continent and inspiring the world. We have a lot of work ahead of us. And again, I’m so very excited to be here and I thank you all for the very warm welcome.

    Thank you.

  • 3 persons, including Custom officer remanded for allegedly stealing $4.3m worth of gold at KIA

    3 persons, including Custom officer remanded for allegedly stealing $4.3m worth of gold at KIA

    An Accra Circuit Court has remanded a customs officer and two others accused of stealing gold valued at USD4,303,234.00 belonging to GND Global Trading LLC.

    Emmanuel Dwamena, 37, the Customs Officer, Abdul Karim Lakoh, 38, and Seth Dzamesi, 43, both businessmen, denied conspiring to steal the 75 kilos of gold bars.

    They would be brought back to the Court on March 27, 2023.

    Meanwhile, their accomplice, George Asamoah, is on the run.

    Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Evans Kesse, said the Complainants: Abdallah Ali, Farhad Sami, and Zev Volf, were citizens of the United Arab Emirates and Australia, respectively. Lakoh is a Sierra Leonean, as Dzamesi, a Ghanaian, claimed to be a businessman, residing at Tantra hills, and Dwamena, the customs officer, also a Ghanaian, resided at Kasoa, and Asamoah was at large.

    He said in March 2023, the complainants went to Sierra Leone to buy Gold, and Lakoh, who was among the people who sold the gold to the complainants, promised to assist the complainants from Sierra Leone through Ghana on transit to Dubai with the gold.

    DSP Kesse said on March 16, 2023, the Complainants and Lakoh arrived at the Kotoka International Airport with Sky Airline with their personal belongings, including 75 kilos of gold bars.

    However, when the complainants landed at Kotoka International Airport Ghana, Lakoh managed to come out from the arrival hall, and Asamoah, now at large on cell phone 0269736510 and Asamoah came to the Airport in a black Range Rover vehicle to pick Lakoh out of the arrival hall.

    The Court heard that they met Dzamesi, who was also using customs branded Toyota Hilux Pickup with registration number GX stole the bag containing the 75kg of the gold bars and kept it in the Toyota pickup.

    He said whilst the complainants were at the transit arrival hall, an Immigration officer sneaked the complainants from the arrival hall and handed them over to Dwamena at the departure hall and he drove them to a supposed customs bonded warehouse at East Legon, Accra with House No.18 Shamo Kwei Avenue, to meet Dzamesi who posed as a customs officer.

    The prosecution said the bag containing the 75 kilos of gold bars was sent to his office, where Dzamesi forced the complainants out of his office after taking the gold. Dwamena drove the complainants back to the Airport and abandoned them.

    At the Airport, the Court heard that Lakoh attempted to escape but he was arrested and handed over to the Airport Police for investigation.

    Further background checks on Lakoh indicated that the whole gold scandal started in Sierra Leone and with the help of Dwamena and Asamoah who happen to be their Ghanaian accomplices, they succeeded in stealing the 75 kilos of gold bars from Kotoka International Airport.

    He said the accused persons admitted the offence in their cautioned statement that they hatched the plan from Sierra Leone and with the assistance of the Ghanaian accomplices in Ghana to steal the gold. Efforts are being made to arrest the other accomplices.

  • Filling of landing cards at KIA no longer necessary – Bawumia

    Filling of landing cards at KIA no longer necessary – Bawumia

    Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has announced new guidelines for visitors coming into the nation through airports.

    He noted that beginning March 31, 2023, inbound passengers will “no longer be required to fill out landing cards. This is because the same information can be obtained electronically.”

    The decision, according to Bawumia, was made following meetings with several stakeholders on enhancing the competitiveness of Ghana’s primary airport, the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    “Furthermore, the Ministry of Interior and the Ghana Immigration Service have been directed to ensure that E-Gates will be operational at KIA this year for use by passengers using their Passports or Ghanacards,” his post added.

    Read Bawumia’s full post below:

    Dear friends,

    I held a productive meeting on improving the competitiveness of Kotoka International Airport (KIA) with key stakeholders, including the Minister for Public Enterprises, Minister for Transport and his deputy, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Ghana Immigration Service, National Security and Ministry of Interior.

    It was decided, inter alia, that airline passengers traveling to Ghana will, from 31st March 2023, no longer be required to fill out landing cards. This is because the same information can be obtained electronically.

    Furthermore, the Ministry of Interior and the Ghana Immigration Service have been directed to ensure that E-Gates will be operational at KIA this year for use by passengers using their Passports or Ghanacards.

    In addition, the processes that passengers go through at KIA are also going to be streamlined to drastically reduce the time spent by passengers and avoid duplication. The new process flow is expected to be operational by 31st March, 2023.

    God bless our homeland Ghana.

  • Reintroduced COVID-19 measures at KIA begin today

    Reintroduced COVID-19 measures at KIA begin today

    The new guidelines from the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) for travelers coming from China and other nations takes effect as of today, Friday, January 6.

    48 hours prior to departure from the nation of origin, passengers must show a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result.

    Once more, they will be subject to free COVID-19 testing upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

    A valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result must be presented 48 hours prior to departure from the place of origin for all other passengers traveling from destinations other than China, whether they are vaccinated or not.

    Non-Ghanaians arriving at KIA with counterfeit or phony vaccination certificates will be quarantined and sent to the point of embarkation at their own expense. Passengers may also be randomly chosen and administered tests upon arrival.

    http://backend.theindependentghana.com/nigeria-no-longer-requires-travelers-to-take-the-covid-test/

    It said similarly, all arriving passengers would undergo temperature screening, Yellow Fever Card verification and COVID-19 vaccination certificate verification.

    The GACL also said children less than 18-year-old are exempted from the mandatory vaccination.

    It said all persons arriving in Ghana fully vaccinated would be exempted from any form of testing done either prior to boarding from originating country or on arrival in Ghana except passengers originating their journey from China.

    Meanwhile, the KIA has warned that Airlines that bring in passengers who are not fully vaccinated to KIA or passengers originating their journey from China without a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure would be surcharged $3500.

    However, passengers transiting and transferring through KIA would be required to fully adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements at the destination countries. 

    These directives are part of measures undertaken to ensure the country does not witness a spike in cases.

  • Ghanaian jailed 10 years in Dubai for trafficking weed

    A 40-year-old Ghanaian man, Joshua Opoku has been jailed in Dubai for trafficking a narcotic substance believed to be cannabis also known as weed.

    Mr. Opoku was said to have been arrested at an airport in Dubai after the Gulf country’s officials found the substance on him.

    According to the brother of the convict, Yaw Amponsah, his brother did not know there was such a substance on him.

    He claimed that the substance was implanted on him unknowingly and Ghanaian Custom Officers at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) allowed him to pass after taking One Hundred dollars from him.

    Narrating how Opoku was arrested, Mr. Amponsah told crimecheckghana.org that his brother was introduced to a Dubai-based Ghanaian known as Prince by a friend.

    This he said was after his brother was promised a job in the Gulf State.

    He continued that his brother did not know Prince but were only in touch via phone.

    Mr. Amponsah indicated that Prince asked Opoku to bring along with him some local food items, which he obliged.

    The distraught man said when it was due for Opoku to go aboard the Dubai-bound airplane, Prince requested him to receive one last item from his brother for him.

    That particular item, according to Mr. Amponsah was already in a wrapped container and when Opoku wanted to know its content, Prince told him it was hair food.

    Mr. Amponsah said security officers at the Dubai airport arrested him when they found out that the content of the container was weed.

    “Opoku had visited South Africa and wanted to go to Dubai for greener pastures. Opoku should have been arrested in Ghana but Customs officers at the KIA took $100 from him. So I think the officers saw the substance on him but they allowed him to pass,” Mr. Amponsah alleged.

    Mr. Amponsah furthered that when Opoku was arrested, he mentioned that Prince asked him to bring him the substance.

    He said the Dubai authorities did not go after Prince but went ahead to imprison his brother for ten years.

    “When we managed to contact Prince, he denied knowledge of the substance. The Dubai authorities did not go after him which is why they have jailed my brother. Opoku is an innocent man and he would never perpetrate such a crime,” he said.

    Mr. Amponsah appealed to Ghanaian authorities to help serve his brother justice and enable him get his freedom.

    Source: Crimecheck

     

  • Driver collapses after car catches fire, burns to ashes

    Driver of a KIA vehicle with registration number GE-8466-20 has been rushed to the hospital for treatment following a fire outbreak that caught his vehicle at a fuel station at Assin Manso in the Assin South District.

    An eyewitness speaking with Angel News reporter Kwame Owusu Asante Shadrack explained that after refilling the fuel tank at the filling station, the car failed to start so the driver removed the car battery to revive it thinking it is dead.

    In an attempt to re-fix the battery, it triggered a fire outbreak.

    According to reports, the driver had no fire extinguisher in his car. Other taxi drivers driving by, therefore, offered to use theirs.

    The driver, therefore, suffered severe burns in the process of extinguishing the fire and was rushed to the hospital.

    Meanwhile, all attempts to save the car became proved futile.

    However, the intervention of the Assin Fosu Fire Service Command brought the fire under control, but the car was burnt beyond repair.

  • Lebanese arrested with fake $10k at KIA pleads guilty, convicted

    A 25-year-old Lebanese Al-Zoubayr Chaaban has been convicted by Circuit Court 1 in Accra after pleading guilty to a charge of possession of fake currency note contrary to section 18(2) of the Currency Act. 1964 (Act.242).

    The court presided over by His Honour Prosper Gomashie convicted the accused on his own guilty plea.

    He was handed a non-custodial sentence by the court and was fined 700 penalty Units, equivalent to GHc8,400. In default, he is to serve two years of prison term.

    The brief facts of the case, according to the prosecutor Chief Inspector Amoah Richard of the Legal and Prosecution Unit of the CID Headquarters, are that the National Security operatives arrested the accused, who was exiting Ghana through the Kotaka International during a search.

    Chief Inspector Amoah said the search retrieved from his luggage $10,000 suspected to be fake USD currency.

    He was subsequently handed over to the National Investigation Bureau for investigations.

    That examination of the suspected fake currency by the Bank of Ghana confirmed same.

    His Counsel, Kwaku Sallah, pleaded for mitigation for the accused after he admitted the offence.

    The accused was convicted on his own guilty plea, and in view of the mitigation plea by the counsel, he was sentenced to a fine of 700 penalty Units in default of two years imprisonment.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Minority notifies Police on picketing at KIA over COVID-19 test

    The Minority in Parliament has notified the Accra Regional Police command of their impending demonstrations and picketing at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra if the government does not make COVID-19 test free.

    In the notice, the Minority added that the protest is also against what they described as the continuous illegal unconscionable and extortionist COVID-19 antigen testing at KIA.

    They said the series of protests and picketing will start from 30th March 2022 and they will converge at the precincts of the Airport from 2pm to 6pm each day.

    “It is our firm determination to sustain these mass picketing actions until such a time that the Akufo-Addo-led government curtails the illegal, unconscionable and extortionist COVID-19 antigen testing conducted by the iffy Frontiers Healthcare Services Ltd,” a portion of the letter explained.

    The letter is signed by three members of Parliament namely Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Kwame Agbodza and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Disruption as KIA Terminal 3 was to guarantee passenger safety – GACL

    The Management of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) says the arrival processes at the Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport, on Tuesday, December 28, was interrupted at 2100 hours to take care of an unattended bag.

    The Base Ammunition Depot Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces was immediately called in to conduct preliminary assessment of the bag and its contents, which was sighted at the arrival hall, a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency, on Wednesday, said.  

    “The bag was subsequently taken away for further investigations, the outcome of which will be made public,” it said.  

    The Management of GACL, consequently, apologised for the disruption in the arrival facilitation process during the period and assured the travelling public of its commitment to ensure their safety and security at our airports.  

    The statement was in response to enquiries made by the GNA to the GACL upon hearing about the incident.

    Source: GNA

  • KIA: Unvaccinated passengers to be returned at cost to the airline

    Strict measures have been introduced by the management of the Ghana Airport Company Limited to ensure that people arriving into the country are all vaccinated against the coronavirus.

    This move forms part of efforts to ensure that the rate of infection does not rise during the Christmas season.

    Among the measures, “Airlines who board passengers without proof of payment for the COVID-19 test and would/ could not pay for the test in Ghana will be fined US$3500 per passenger.”

    Also, “non-Ghanaian passengers may be refused entry and be returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the Airline.”

    The month of December has been declared by the GHS had as the vaccination month.

    Addressing a press conference in Accra on Sunday November 28, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said vaccination was the surest way to deal with the virus.

    He further assured that the authorities are going to scale up surveillance measures at the Kotoka International Airport during the Christmas season to ensure that Covid infections do not increase.

    He further said that the mistakes that were made in December last year which occasioned the escalation of infections in January this year, will not be repeated.

    There is going to be a “strict enforcement of the protocols at the KIA. We are going to increase surveillance. We are expecting an increased number of people to arrive in the country.

    “we are going to ensure that our logistics are prepared, we will continue our surveillance to be able to look at that, we are going to look at isolation centres,” he said.

    He added “Our contact tracing will be strengthened.

    “We are going to engage with religious organizations to ensure that activities in done in Christmas are in accordance with Covid protocols.”

    Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr Anthony Nsia Asare, allayed fears of persons who are worried about the potential reaction from taking the covid vaccine.

    He stated that it is normal to experience headaches, body pains and other reactions. These are indications that the vaccine is functioning properly in the body, he said.

    “If you are vaccinated and you feel slight headache it means the vaccine is working very well,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, December 4 with Dzifa Bampoh.

    Dr Nsia Asare further urged all persons who are yet to receive their vaccines to do so in order to save their lives and the lives of others.

    In his view, Ghana cannot afford to go through fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic hence the government, through the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has taken the vaccination exercise a step higher in order to get as many as possible inoculated.

    Vaccination centres, he stated, are being created closed to the people in the communities including market areas to make it easier for them to go through the exercise.

    “We cannot afford a fourth wave,” he said, adding that “we can all do this together if you are vaccinated,” he said.

    The GHS) this week issued new guidelines to deal with the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana ahead of the Christmas season.

    The guidelines include measures to vaccinate as many as possible before Christmas on December 25.

    In a press releases issued on Thursday, December 9, the GHS said “All persons, 18 years and above arriving in Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for Covid-19 vaccines.

    “All unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who are currently outside the country and intend to return within 14 days from the midnight of 12 December 2021 are exempted. However, they would be vaccinated on arrival at the airport.”

    It added “all Ghanaians traveling out of the country are to be fully vaccinated effectively 12th midnight 2021.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • COVID-19 test results at KIA not fake GHS

    The Ghana Health Service has refuted claims by some passengers that Covid-19 test results at the Kotoka International Airport are fake.

    According to the Service, the testing procedure meets all international standards and is constantly being monitored by the Foods and Drugs Authority.

    The reassurance comes after some disgruntled passengers who tested positive for the virus at the airport claimed that government officials are intentionally exploiting passengers by giving out untrue Covid results so they can be isolated for a fee.

    They also alleged that they have been held captive at these isolation centers.

    But in a statement by the GHS dated July, 31 to address these allegations, the GHS noted “Ms. Mavis Boateng in the viral video made a lot of allegations including the fact that she presented a negative PCR test from her country of origin and as such, she alma test positive on arrival.”

    “li is worth noting that a person can present a negative PCR test on arrival and still test positive at KIA because he or she may be incubating the virus. Also, your test result status is specifically with reference to the date of doing the test, so any risky activities alloy/anis can change your status.”

    It added “she also made an allegation that test/result at KIA are fake. This is also not true because the test conducted at KIA meets all international standards and is constantly being monitored by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Deadly Indian strain recorded at KIA hasnt entered the community GHS

    The deadly Delta variants of COVID-19 recorded in Ghana have not yet entered the community, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced.

    Ghana has detected six Delta variants of COVID-19 so far, the GHS has confirmed.

    The variants were confirmed from samples taken from passengers at the Kotoka International Airport between April and June.

    A statement by the GHS said “all passengers who test positive at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) are put under mandatory isolation.

    “All positive samples are sent for further testing (genomic sequencing) to identify the variants. Variants sequenced from samples of positive cases at the Airport do not necessarily end up in the community.

    “As of now, the country has detected six Delta variants of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) from all samples taken between April and June, 2021 at the ports of entry. No Delta variant has been detected from samples taken from cases in the community.

    “The MOH and GHS further inform the general public that in April 2021, there was a surge in cases at the airport during which period 308 positives were identified.

    “However, Ghana has not experienced a third wave partly due to the robust surveillance system in place at the ports of entry and strict isolation of all cases detected.”

    On the issue of vaccines, the GHS noted that reports that Sputnik-V and AstraZeneca vaccines are not effective against the Delta strain of SARS-Cov-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) are untrue.

    According to Public Health England (PHE) two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine are highly effective against hospitalisation due to the Delta variant and showed no deaths among those vaccinated.

    The data also suggest that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective against symptomatic disease caused by the Delta variant.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Parliamentary Select Committee on Health satisfied with coronavirus procedures at KIA

    The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has expressed satisfaction with the COVID-19 operational procedures for arriving passengers at the Kotoka International Airport.

    It said any other observations would be discussed privately with the Airport authorities for solutions.

    Members of the Committee, on Wednesday, toured the Airport COVID-19 Testing Centre to have first-hand information about the testing procedures for arrivals.

    The tour was also for members to understand the dynamics and operations of the Testing Centre.

    Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Chairman of the Committee, briefing the media after the tour, said: “We resumed Parliament yesterday and thought it prudent to tour the Airport, to know what happens as far as COVID-19 protocol is concerned, understand the situation at the moment for stakeholder discussions and redress.”

    “We were taken through the processes at the Airport from the arrival of passengers to the exit point. We are impressed with what we saw with regard to the operational processes and any other observations will be discussed privately with the Airport authorities for solutions,” he said.

    Mr Akandoh said a major concern was how Port Health officials came into contact with passengers before getting to know their status.

    “There are other issues like the cost of testing, which was reduced from 150 dollars to 50 dollars, but I believe after the tour we will engage the Minister of Health and authorities at the Airport and the Ghana Health Service to have wider discussions on how to resolve these challenges,” he said.

    Mr Yaw Kwakwa, the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, told the Committee that on arrival at the Airport, all passengers were screened using thermal scanning devices and were also required to fill a health declaration form.

    He said the Company, as part of the processes, created banking booths at the Airport for passengers to verify online payment receipts before being ushered into testing booths for their blood samples to be taken with the results ready in 30 minutes.

    Dr Patrict Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General, Ghana Health Service, touching on the management of confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the Airport, said all persons with confirmed cases were handled by the Port Health Unit.

    Following completion of the arrival procedures, they would be sent to the Ga East Municipal Hospital for further clinical assessment and management, he said. Dr Kuma-Aboagye said the government had put in place measures to halt a possible third outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in the country and urged those who had received the second vaccination against the virus to continue observing the safety protocols, including wearing face masks.

    Dr Kudzo Seneadza, the Managing Director of Frontier Health Services, a certified laboratory at the Airport, assured the public that the company was ensuring quality testing services at the Airport.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: High incident of fake test result at KIA Noguchi reveals

    Senior Research Fellow at Noguchi, Mr Kofi Bonney has advised officials at the airport to be extra vigilant in reviewing documents of prospective passengers as most tend to hold fake Covid 19 test results to be approved.

    In an interview on the Happy Morning Show with Sammy Eshun, he revealed that ” most individuals tend to fake their own covid 19 test results. Some people can sit in the comfort of their homes and create their own Covid 19 test results using their laptops. On numerous occasions, we have received calls from officials at the airport to confirm covid 19 test results of some clients applying for visas.

    He further explained that aside from the rise in the number of health facilities conducting covid 19 tests, other factors have contributed to the low turn out of positive cases in the country.

    “The reduction in the positive cases of Covid 19 in the country does not imply that we are safe. People are not taking the covid 19 test because of the vaccines. Most individuals are focused on being vaccinated than taking the covid 19 tests. This is because we have been made to believe that taking the vaccine is safer.”

    In response to questions around errors in Covid 19 result, he stated that ” it is highly probable that some Covid 19 test results may come out falsely. There is something called human error. As humans, we are prone to making mistakes. Due to the ineptitude of some workers, a whole barge of tests may come out negative which may be false.

    He however advised medical practitioners to apply the quality control process when suspicion arises around a Covid 19 test result.

    “There is something called quality control where a health practitioner can determine whether or not a test result is true or false. When he notices that a whole barge of the test results comes out negative or positive he can take clues of falsity and redo the tests again.”

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Flights disrupted as KIA workers withdraw services

    Workers of Kotoka International Airport (KIA) have withdrawn some of their services effective today, Friday, February 26, 2021, as part of a protest of alleged mismanagement by the Managing Director, Mr Yaw Kwakwa.

    The situation is largely expected to disrupt all departures at the Kotoko International Airport (KIA) this morning.

    A statement issued by the Divisional Union of the Public Services Workers Union at the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) said: “action has become necessary following the Boards attempt to shelve the report of an investigative committee comprising the Ministry of Aviation, the Board, Senior Management, and the Public Services Workers Union which confirms the allegations of mismanagement and abuse of office leveled against the Managing Director, Mr Yaw Kwakwa.”

    The affected services include; Screening of pre-board passengers and access control, Fire/Safety cover for all aircraft, Water supply and sewage treatment and Public announcement and flight display.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Testing regime for passengers at KIA reliable – FDA

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Wednesday debunked the assertion that the COVID-19 Testing regime used for passengers at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is unreliable.

    A statement issued and signed by Mrs Delasse A. Darko, the Chief Executive Officer of FDA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, said the device at KIA “detects the ANTIGEN (SARS-CoV-2 Virus) by fluorescence technology,” adding that it was, therefore, not a Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit.

    The FDA statement seeks to clarify claims by Dr Kofi Bonney of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research that the device being used for testing at the Airport was unreliable.

    The statement said the FDA gave market authorisation to the device after a specificity and sensitivity comparison with the PCR tests.

    It said the device met the requirements of not less than 99.0 per cent concordance.

    “The FDA wishes to assure the public that the device approved for use at the KIA is fit for purpose and the Authority shall continue to monitor its performance in accordance with regulatory requirements,” it said.

    Source: GNA

  • Kotoka International Airport is ‘not for sale’ – Ghana Airports

    The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has reiterated its earlier explanation that the Kotoka International Airport is “not for sale or being privatised” as alleged by former President John Dramani Mahama.

    Rather, the Ghana Airports Company Limited says “an unsolicited proposal has been received from a Turkish Consortium which is yet to be considered. It is rather unfortunate that certain figures from the proposal are being used to peddle untruths,” the GACL said in a statement in reaction a claim made by former President John Dramani Mahama in a television interview with Woezor.

    Mr Mahama during the television interview at the weekend argued that giving 66 percent shares of the Kotoka Airport to a private firm was wrong.

    He said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was against attempts by the government to hand over 66 percent shares of the Airport to TAM-SUMMA Consortium, a Turkish company.

    According to him, such moves by the government were wrong and must be stopped.

    The former President said while the NDC administration was in power, its valuation report showed that the airport was valued at about GH¢5 billion and so it is strange that the government intends to cede 66 percent of its control of the airport to the private company in exchange for $70 million.

    “When we were in office, a valuation study of the Kotoka Airport was done and it was valued at over GH¢ 5 billion. It also had an insured value in the region of GH¢3 to GH¢4 billion because a lot of money had been invested in the airport and it had become one of the five best airports in Africa.”

    “[Now we are seeing] a strange development where a Turkish company is being given the airport; to take over the airport and run it. For $70 million we are giving 66 percent of the airport to a Turkish company. We are against it. It is wrong,” John Mahama said.

    Airport company’s response

    But reacting the Ghana Airport Company Limited said the claim by the former President was not true.

    It assured the “general public that Kotoka International Airport is NOT FOR SALE. The vision of making Ghana the Preferred Aviation Hub and leader in Airport Business in West Africa remains a priority.”

    It said the claim by Mr Mahama that an investment of $600 million was made at Kotoka is “incorrect.”

    “The amount may be in reference to funding of projects in all airports including $130 million Runway project at Tamale Airport and $25 million new airport in Ho.”

    It also said the claim that the GACL has been unable to service the syndicated loan facility is “untrue.” “To dare, GACL has met its repayment obligations under the loan facility,” the statement said.

    Below is a copy of the full reaction by the GACL 

    Kotoka Airport Not for Sale by The Independent Ghana on Scribd


    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Moves to decongest KIAs Terminal Three appropriate

    The move by the Ghana Airport Company to refurbish terminals 1 and 2 of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) so as to ease the pressure and congestion at Terminal Three is very apt.

    Terminal Three, which is the latest addition to the year and a half of the operation at Terminal Three has seen a volume of not less than 3 million passengers which invariably means, the new terminal will hit its maximum capacity very soon.

    Therefore, there are worries that Terminal 3 will soon hit the five million passenger throughput, and measures need to be put in place to accommodate spill-overs.

    The move, when adopted, will see Terminal 2 catering for regional flights to reduce pressure on Terminal 3, which is currently accommodating international and regional flights. Ever since Terminal Three stated catering to international flights, both terminal 1 and 2 have not been fully utilized.

    Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda, briefed Parliament last week about measures being put in place to ensure that KIA is safe as the increasing passenger throughput at the new terminal 1 and 2 gives cause for concern.

    Aviation Minister Adda explained that Terminal Two would be refurbished to cater for regional flights while Terminal one will be refurbished to cater for domestic flights. The move to decongest terminal three is very apt because the current pressure on the new Terminal Three could see the facilities over-stretched and could be depreciating faster than expected.

    If we are to prolong the life-span of the new Terminal which is the pride of KIA, then we would have to reduce the current pressure on the facility and refurbish the previous two terminals to take up some of the passenger throughput.

    However, the major challenge facing the airport company is logistics and the availability of Immigration and Customs officials to process passengers who will pass through Terminal 2 when regional flights are pushed there.

    Well, that hurdle has to be overcome if indeed, the country intends to make the KIA the aviation hub of the sub-region. The Ghana Airport Company must come up with innovative ideas to raise funds to procure the needed logistics to put the KIA in the position we desire as a nation.

     

    Source: Business & Financial Times

  • Minority to petition US government over McDan Aviation deal

    Members on the Minority side in Parliament have given indications that they will petition the United States government for details regarding a management contract offered to McDan Aviation for the handling of logistics for the US military at the Terminal 1 of the Kotoka International Airport.

    The Minority spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the decision to petition the US is due to the fact that the only agreement Parliament ratified with regards to the use of Terminal 1 of the Airport was for the US military to make use of it and not a private entity.

    “What are the terms of that agreement with McDan? Parliament is not aware of any such agreement. What Parliament ratified was a bilateral state to state agreement. There was no role for private companies or private entities and so we are alarmed about this revelation,” he told Citi News.

    The Minister of Aviation, Joseph Adda on Wednesday [February 19, 2020] told Parliament that the ground floor of the Terminal 1 building has been rented out to McDan for 15 years for the delivery of logistics.

    “The Marque Tent used as the departure lounge has become dilapidated and needed to be replaced. The Ghana Airport Company, therefore, took the renovation from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 to save money and also ensure efficiency in operations and passionate comfort. Mr. Speaker, the Ghana Airport Company has rented out the ground floor of Terminal 1 to McDan Aviation for use as a logistics operation centre for a period of 15 years from January 2019,” he said.

    “Pursuant to the Ghana government agreement with the United States government, McDan has also signed a management agreement with the United States military and provides logistics and handling services to the US military through Terminal 1,” Mr. Adda added.

    But the news came as shocking to members of the minority as they insist that they never approved an agreement to that effect.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • Lagos-bound flights divert to Accra over poor visibility caused by harmattan

    A number of international flights heading to the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, have been diverted to the Kotoka International Airport over poor visibility caused by harmattan.

    In an interview with Citi Business News, Edward Baah, Director, Air Traffic Services at Kotoka, said since the night of February 11, 2020, a number of Lagos-bound flights have sought refuge at Kotoka pending clarity in the weather condition which is said to be poor particularly in the Benin airspace heading to Lagos.

    He mentioned that more than five flights including two belonging to Emirates, one from Rwandair, British Airways and Qatar Airlines, have all had to stop over in Accra.

    The diversion has led to unusual long passenger queues at Kotoka International Airports leading to health inspection and immigration services.

    “The size of aircraft that are diverting are wide-bodied that can carry about 400 passengers, so obviously they will create a lot of pressure at the immigration and the arrival hall,” Mr. Baah sated.

    According to him, the respective airlines have made arrangements to accommodate their passengers until visibility improves.

    Mr. Baah said they expect more flights to make a detour to Accra, but he cautioned that there is a limit to how much flights Accra can accommodate and that when the limit is reached, other diverted flights would have to seek refuge elsewhere.

     

    Source: citibusinessnews

  • Lady with huge butt causes stir at Kotoka International Airport

    There was pandemonium at the Kotoka International Airport when a lady with a huge backside entered the terminal three passengers lounge.

    The yet to be identified lady wore striped colorful trousers which were tightly fitting with her huge buttocks protruding from her behind and profusely shaking with each step she takes whiles wearing high heeled shoes.

    Read: Christmas: Moesha preaches love with beautiful photos

    All manner of persons flooded the scene with most of them men with shouts of surprise which time was a bit embarrassing.

    The lady on the other hand never lifted an eyelid as she continued walking majestically to wherever she was going while others pulled their phones to capture her huge buttocks.

     

    Source: ghanaguardian.com

  • Terminal 3 has 513 defects Kofi Adda

    Aviation Minister Kofi Adda has said the popular terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) was spotted with 513 defects when the Akufo-Addo government assumed office.

    According to him, the ministry is still working with the Ghana Airports company to fix the defects in order to enhance the status of the facility.

    Read: Terminal 3 debt chokes Ghana Airports Company Limited

    Speaking to Bola Ray on Starr Chat Wednesday, the Navrongo Central MP said although the construction of terminal 3 is commendable, alot of things could have been done differently.

    “Of course the initiative is commendable, as to whether the implementation was right is also another thing. As of the time we took over, we detected over 500 defects on the terminal 3. In fact at the last count, we had 513 defects, and these are things we are still working to fix,” he said.

    The Terminal 3 constructed by the erstwhile Mahama administration became fully operational on September 15, 2018, following the completion of tests and simulation exercises.

    Read: Information Minister cuts sod for Ofoase/Ayirebi Transport Terminal

    The $250 million T3 projects partly funded by the African Development Bank is to ease pressure on the existing two terminals expected to handle up to five million passengers a year, with expansion potential of up to 6.5 million passengers.

    The new terminal comprises of five levels spread across an area of 48,268m² and semiclosed areas for the Baggage Make-up Areas of 28,260m², Ultra Modern facilities and capacity to handle 5 million passengers a year; capacity to process 1,250 passengers per hour; six boarding bridges; 7 links (expandable to 8 in the future); Large retail area (7000m²), CIP terminal and 707 Car parking slots and a new Road network.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh