The management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has clarified the issue surrounding a piece of land acquired by McDan Company Limited, which is reportedly under litigation. Additionally, there have been discussions regarding McDan Company Limited debt, further complicating the situation.
In a statement issued by the company, the management of GACL disclosed that the lands acquired by McDan Company Limited, which are claimed to be under litigation, have been developed with commercial buildings.
The GACL said McDan has failed to pay the required ground rent to GACL, despite benefiting from the rental income, which has added to the McDan Company Limited debt.
The statement said It is also worth noting that while McDan intimates that some of the lands acquired from Ghana Airports Company Limited as far back as 2015 are under litigation and, therefore, is requesting GACL to hold on with the collection of payments, McDan Company Limited has developed same lands with commercial buildings situated on it and benefiting from rental proceeds on the built properties without paying ground rent to GACL, increasing the McDan Company Limited debt.
In justifying their demand for full payment, GACL said McDan Company Limited has defaulted on payments for four years, further exacerbating the McDan Company Limited debt issue.
GACL also pointed out that four other businesses operating at Kotoka International Airport have faced similar issues, with their operations being closed due to non-payment of debts.
“Prior suggested payment plans from McDan Company Limited which was presented as far back as 2020 was defaulted, therefore it is our position to demand full payment of monies owed. Four other companies operating at Kotoka International Airport were closed for non-payment of their debt to GACL,” the statement added.
The statement confirmed that the company made a payment of GH¢2,000,000 on December 24, 2024, towards the total outstanding debt of $3,995,622.66, part of the McDan Company Limited debt.
“For the record, McDan Company Limited paid GH¢2,000,000 on Friday, December 24, 2024, out of the outstanding $3, 995,622.66 and GH¢13,523.37 owed GACL,” it added.
These debts necessitated the closure of McDan’s Aviation Facility at the Kotoka International Airport.