Ghana’s opposition party has raised concerns over alleged corruption surrounding the government’s deal with a private company to activate the newly launched E-gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
The $147 million project, aimed at improving passenger arrivals and reducing wait times, has drawn criticism from the Minority in Parliament, who argue the agreement is lacking in transparency and fraught with irregularities.
Governs Agbodza, the Minority Chief Whip, addressed the media on Wednesday, describing the arrangement as a case of “create, loot, and share.” He questioned why the government would spend nearly $147 million on an E-gate system when the entire airport construction cost $250 million.
“Why would the whole airport, which cost $250 million to build, be followed by an agreement to spend $147 million on an e-gate service?” Agbodza said, calling the deal a prime example of misuse of state funds. “This is at the height of ‘create, loot, and share’—money is being moved through the Bank of Ghana and the Ghana Immigration Service to collect these funds.”
Agbodza further criticized the deal for lacking proper value-for-money assessments, highlighting that the Ghana Immigration Service and Ministry of Finance were still in the process of finalising the agreement.
He urged civil servants to halt any further action on the deal, warning that signing an agreement with the private entity involved would be illegal. Though he did not name the company, Agbodza suggested it had previously benefited from state contracts in areas such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), passport office, and the National Identification Authority.
The E-gate system, which is intended to streamline airport operations, has been described by Agbodza as an integrated service that should not carry such a hefty price tag. “The E-gate cannot cost $147 million when the entire airport only cost $250 million to build,” he said.
The deal continues to raise questions about government spending and transparency, with calls for further scrutiny and review of the agreement.
Source:TheDotNews