More than 2,000 rounds of ammunition and 20 firearms were intercepted at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in 2023, exposing a troubling lapse in Ghana’s aviation security and triggering urgent calls for regulatory reform.
The startling figures, detailed in the latest Auditor-General’s report on public accounts, underscore a 40% surge in weapons seizures over two years and paint a worrying picture of systemic vulnerabilities at one of West Africa’s busiest airports.
According to the report, 198 rounds of ammunition and four weapons were discovered at the international passenger screening checkpoint, while a further 1,879 rounds and 16 weapons were seized at Terminal 2. Yet, despite these alarming discoveries, all involved passengers were allowed to board their flights—an oversight blamed on the lack of a national policy governing the transport of weapons by air.
Describing the situation as a “potential security risk,” the Auditor-General warned that Ghana’s failure to regulate weapon transport at its airports could lead to catastrophic consequences for crew, passengers, and ground staff alike.
Security experts echoed the concern, cautioning that even declared weapons, if not tightly controlled, can undermine the safety of air travel. “Unchecked weapon carriage threatens the integrity of aviation operations and makes our skies less secure,” one expert noted.
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) acknowledged the gravity of the situation and confirmed that concerns were first raised in 2022 with the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC). However, despite high-level meetings involving the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), no comprehensive policy has yet been enacted.
GACL escalated the matter further in August 2023, appealing directly to the Minister for National Security, and again in November, demanding urgent action to address the growing threat posed by undeclared weapons.
In the absence of formal regulations, GACL has implemented stopgap measures. Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel have undergone enhanced training to sharpen their weapon detection skills, which officials credit for the increased interception rate. Still, the agency insists that internal controls alone are insufficient without an enforceable national policy backed by penalties for violations.
The Auditor-General has now recommended the immediate formulation of a Weapon Declaration Policy, calling on GACL and the GCAA to collaborate on comprehensive screening protocols that include mandatory declarations and clearly defined sanctions.
As Kotoka International Airport continues to serve as Ghana’s principal aviation gateway for diplomatic, commercial, and business traffic, stakeholders warn that time is running out. Without swift and decisive intervention, the country’s airspace remains exposed to a security breach with potentially far-reaching consequences.
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