No Airport Fumigation Tax – Akufo-Addo Assures

President Akufo-Addo has been briefed by the board chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) that the board has taken no such decision to introduce any fumigation charge on passengers traveling through the airport.

The President on his return from France last night, according to our Jubilee sources, was briefed by Paul Adom Otchere, the GACL chairman. The President is said to have further directed that no such policy should be entertained.

News about a possible introduction of a US$7 per passenger luggage fumigation tax surfaced on social media and the main media space on Saturday 24 June. This news item has received backlash and condemnation on social and mainstream media.

In Ghana, it is not possible to introduce such a levy or tax without going through Parliament for approval. When Asaase News contacted two other members of the GACL board, they affirmed that no such proposal has come before the board. They described the report as news to them.

“I very much doubt the authenticity of this story. But, even if there is any truth in the news report about any such proposal, I can assure you that it is not a policy. It cannot be a policy of GACL. This is because the board of GACL has absolutely no idea.

“And any such significant policy proposal, which, indeed, has tax implications on passengers has to be brought to our board, discussed and approved or otherwise. But, no such proposal has been brought to us. Indeed I am only now reading about it on the internet,” Kwabena Nyarko, a member of the GACL board told Asaase News.

Reporting by Wilberforce Asare