Pressure group Committee for Public Accountability (CPA) has strongly criticized the McDan Jet Terminal closure by Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL), calling it a deliberate act of sabotage aimed at disrupting President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s swearing-in ceremony.
The group alleged that the McDan Jet Terminal closure was designed to prevent international dignitaries arriving by private jets, thereby casting a negative impression of government interference.
The GACL justified the terminal’s closure by citing an alleged outstanding debt of over $3 million owed by McDan Aviation, which reportedly includes unpaid land leases, rentals, and terminal charges.
According to GACL, McDan was given a deadline until Christmas to settle the debt, but the payments were not made.
However, McDan Aviation has denied these allegations, insisting that no such debts exist.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Executive Chairman, Collins Amankwah, lambasted the GACL’s decision and described it as harmful to Ghana’s private sector and international reputation. “How do you feel discomfort and discontent to see our fellow Ghanaian businesses flourishing?
“Why are we so wicked to each other? Why do we always want to undermine the very people that we’re supposed to support as people?” he quizzed.
Mr. Amankwah expressed concerns about the timing of the McDan Jet Terminal closure, particularly with the imminent swearing-in ceremony.
“Because of this, you shut down the only private terminal that complements the main terminal. Now we have an important event like the swearing-in of the president-elect, and I’m sure they know foreign diplomats are coming and most of them will come with private jets, where are they going to land? Why are we doing this to ourselves? Won’t people think it’s a clear sabotage as far as the event is concerned?”
The terminal’s closure has sparked public debate, with many questioning the impact of such actions on Ghana’s ability to support its private sector.
The McDan Aviation Private Jet Terminal, which was inaugurated in January 2022, has been hailed as a major milestone in Ghana’s aviation sector, offering a unique service for high-profile clients and boosting the country’s image as a growing hub for business and tourism.
