The Minority caucus in Ghana's Parliament has raised red flags over the government's decision to award a £147 million contract to a private entity for the operation of the E-gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA). The project, aimed at streamlining passenger arrivals and reducing processing times, has been criticized for lacking transparency and being marred by irregularities.
Minority Chief Whip, Governs Agbodza, has denounced the agreement as a clear case of "create, loot, and share." He questioned the exorbitant cost of the E-gate system, highlighting that the entire airport was constructed for £250 million. "Why would an entire airport that cost £250 million to construct be overshadowed by an E-gate service contract worth nearly £147 million?" Mr. Agbodza asked.
According to Agbodza, the Value for Money (VFM) audit has not been completed, yet the Immigration Service and the Ministry of Finance are rushing to sign the agreement. This, he claims, is an illegality. He also warned civil servants involved in facilitating the agreement to halt the process, citing the entity's history of exploiting public funds from various government institutions.
Agbodza emphasized that, by law, the Ghana Immigration Service is not authorized to independently operate the E-gate system, which is intended to be an integrated service at the airport. "The Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, and the Ghana Immigration Service should all be aware that the laws passed by this house never intended for this service to be solely managed by GIS," he asserted.
The E-gate system, which uses facial recognition technology to verify users' identities, was intended to enhance airport operations and reduce processing times. However, the controversy surrounding the contract has raised concerns about corruption and the mismanagement of public funds.
As the Minority caucus continues to push for transparency and accountability, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these allegations. One thing is certain, however: the Ghanaian public deserves answers about the E-gate system contract and the alleged corruption surrounding it.
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