E-gate service cannot cost $147 million when entire airport was $250 million

E-gate service cannot cost $147 million when entire airport was $250 million – Minority

Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza

The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over alleged corruption surrounding the government’s decision to contract a private entity for the operation of the newly commissioned E-gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The $147 million project, intended to streamline passenger arrivals and reduce processing times, has been criticized for lacking transparency and being fraught with irregularities.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza denounced the agreement as a clear case of “create, loot, and share.”

“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 questioned.

According to the Minority Chief Whip, “this is the peak of ‘create, loot, and share.’ People are at the Bank of Ghana attempting to open accounts for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to begin collecting this money. The Value for Money (VFM) audit has not even been completed, yet the Immigration Service and the Ministry of Finance are rushing to sign an agreement. This is an illegality.”

Issuing a warning, Mr. Agbodza called on civil servants involved in facilitating the agreement to halt the process.

“Do not proceed. Any civil servant who partakes in this hasty decision to sign an agreement with this entity should take note. I will not name the entity, but it is known for exploiting public funds from the DVLA, the passport office, the National Identification Authority, and others. This time, it won’t succeed.”

He also 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. It is an integrated service meant to enhance airport operations,” Mr. Agbodza asserted.

He further criticized the exorbitant cost of the E-gate system.

“The E-gate service cannot cost $147 million when the entire airport cost £250 million to construct,” the Minority Chief Whip added.