Following a decision by the Accra High Court on May 6, 2025, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has reclaimed over 16 acres of prime airport land from subsidiaries of the McDan Group.
The court granted GACL full re-entry and possession of two key parcels of land measuring approximately 10.63 acres and 5.66 acres strategically located near Kotoka International Airport and adjacent to Action Chapel International. The properties had been under the control of McDan Shipping Company and Airport Logistics Limited, subsidiaries of the McDan Group, since 2012.
The move follows a legal action initiated by GACL in February this year, in which it accused the companies of multiple breaches of lease terms and failure to honour ground rent obligations. GACL sought to recover a total of $26,296 in unpaid rent and secured a perpetual injunction restraining further interference with the land by the McDan subsidiaries.
The High Court, in its summary judgment, ruled that the defendants had no valid legal defence, awarding all reliefs sought by GACL and imposing GH¢50,000 in legal costs on the McDan entities.
In a statement following the ruling, the Ghana Airports Company hailed the judgment as a strategic win for public accountability and asset recovery.
“The repossession of these lands not only safeguards millions of dollars’ worth of state assets but also reinforces our commitment to accountability and lawful management of public property,” the company stated.
A Broader Tussle Over Aviation Assets
This is not the first time the state-owned airports operator and the McDan Group have been locked in a high-stakes standoff. In December 2024, McDan Aviation’s operations at Terminal 1 of the Kotoka International Airport were suspended over debt obligations. Although those debts were subsequently cleared, the land dispute remained unresolved until this recent court decision.
Sources close to the McDan Group have told Graphic Online that the company has filed an appeal against the ruling, signaling that the legal battle over the land may not be over.
Industry observers say the case underscores growing efforts by state institutions to assert control over critical infrastructure and recover public assets from private entities seen to be in breach of agreements.
With over 900 acres of land under its purview, GACL’s successful reclamation could set a precedent in safeguarding lands designated for aviation development and strategic national infrastructure projects.
A demolition exercise that commenced on the disputed land has been linked to a court ruling in favour of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL). Earlier on Wednesday, a journalist from Multimedia Group who was reporting live from the scene was allegedly assaulted, along with an eyewitness.
The incident, reportedly carried out by individuals in military uniform, has sparked widespread public condemnation. The government has also denounced the alleged assault and has directed the Minister for Defence to launch an investigation and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
