Governs Kwame Agbodza, Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, has raised concerns about the controversial E-Gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), claiming that the project lacks a formal contract.

During his vetting before Parliament on January 20, Agbodza questioned the procurement process and financial aspects of the project, which was initially expected to cost the government $240 million. However, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) disputed this figure in a statement issued on December 19, 2024, calling the reported cost inaccurate.

Agbodza, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, provided additional context during his testimony, stating that the E-Gate was part of a broader modernization initiative led by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). He explained that the system was originally intended to be implemented at no cost to the government as a complementary feature to existing systems.

“The E-Gate was meant to be developed for free,” Agbodza said. “Had the government listened to my concerns, the confusion surrounding its commissioning, particularly when the former Vice President was involved, could have been avoided. There is no formal contract for the E-Gate, and the $1.7 million figure that was cited has no basis.”

Agbodza also indicated that the project was already underway under the GCAA before his intervention, with officials later preparing a memo to formalize the initiative.

Source:TheDotNews