Two Port Health Officers Barred from Accra Airport
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
Two Port Health officers have been barred from working at the Accra International Airport and other airports operated by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) after they were found to have charged a foreign traveller twice the approved fee for a Yellow Fever Card.
The two officers were sanctioned after allegedly demanding and collecting US$40 from the foreign passport holder for the issuance of the card, instead of the approved fee of US$20.
The incident occurred at Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, according to GACL.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 6, the airport management company said the officers’ identification cards had been withdrawn and deactivated following the incident.
“On 5th August 2026, two Port Health officers working inside Terminal 3 were found to have extorted money from a Foreign passport holder for the issuance of a Yellow Fever Card,” GACL said.
The company explained that the approved charge for a Yellow Fever Card is US$20 for foreign passport holders and GH¢100 for Ghanaian passport holders.
“However, the officers charged the passenger USD 40,” the statement added.
GACL said it acted immediately after the matter was brought to its attention, stressing that the two officers would no longer be allowed to operate at any of its facilities.
“Their ID cards to operate in the terminal have been withdrawn and deactivated. As of Thursday, 6th August 2026, the two officers are no longer permitted to work at Accra International Airport or any other GACL-operated airport,” it stated.
The development is the latest in a series of actions by airport authorities in response to complaints of alleged extortion and solicitation of money from passengers by personnel working at Ghana’s airports.
It comes shortly after a Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer was transferred from the Accra International Airport following a viral video in which she was allegedly captured demanding money from a passenger for “breakfast.”
GACL has intensified efforts to address such complaints and improve accountability among personnel working within airport terminals.
As part of those measures, the company introduced a dedicated hotline in June 2026 through which travellers can report suspected cases of extortion, solicitation or other inappropriate conduct by officials and service providers at the airports.
The reporting mechanism covers personnel from several institutions operating within the airport environment, including Port Health, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Police Service, GRA Customs and the Narcotics Control Commission.
It also covers employees of airlines, ground-handling companies and private security firms.
GACL has encouraged passengers who encounter demands for unauthorised payments or other forms of misconduct to report such incidents through the designated channels, saying prompt reporting would help authorities identify and address wrongdoing.
The latest sanctions reinforce the company’s position that passengers should not be subjected to unofficial charges or demands for money while accessing services at Ghana’s airports.
