VIDEO: Travellers Express Excitement Over New E-Gates at Kotoka International Airport

As Ghanaians return home for the festive season, many have expressed their excitement and satisfaction with the newly introduced electronic gates (e-gates) at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Launched by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia just a few weeks ago, the e-gates are part of a broader initiative aimed at improving the efficiency of border control through digital systems.

The e-gates, which allow travellers to use their Ghana cards for biometric verification, promise a faster and more streamlined airport experience, especially during peak travel periods. By scanning their cards at the gates, passengers can avoid long queues, significantly reducing waiting times.

“It’s been a smooth process with no issues at all,” said one traveller, beaming with pride. “I’m very delighted to be home. When you travel to Europe and America, you see all these technologies, and you wonder when they will come to Ghana. Well, Ghana, akwaaba!”

Another traveller praised the system, saying, “We’re making progress. Once you know how it works—put the card on the scanner and look into the camera—it opens. It’s impressive. It feels like using some advanced infrared technology.”

Many passengers also noted the speed of the system, with one traveller exclaiming, “It was so fast, like a microsecond!” This swift processing is seen as a game-changer for the country’s airport operations, especially during high-traffic periods like the holiday season.

The e-gates have also earned praise for their simplicity and effectiveness, with users applauding Vice President Bawumia for his leadership in making the system a reality.

One user, commenting on the political significance, said, “Bawumia did it, but you didn’t vote for him. He’s actually working.” Another traveller emphasised, “We should put politics aside. The system is flawless and took me less than a minute to pass through.”

In addition to enhancing the passenger experience, the e-gates are a significant step towards modernising Ghana’s border controls. The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has announced plans to expand the e-gates to other airports and entry points across the country under the new Immigration 360 initiative.

This system, aimed at automating passenger processing, will integrate both local and international databases to improve security.

The Immigration 360 project, with a total lifecycle cost of $240 million, will include periodic upgrades, maintenance, and licensing over a 10-year period. The first phase at KIA, which cost $94.6 million and is being pre-financed by Margins ID Systems Application Ltd., marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation.

During the e-gate launch, Vice President Bawumia hailed the system as “world-class,” underscoring Ghana’s capacity to embrace advanced technology typically associated with developed nations.

While some social media rumours claimed the e-gates cost $240 million, the GIS clarified that the actual cost for the 15 e-gates at KIA, including accessories, was $1.7 million. The $240 million figure reflects the total lifecycle cost of the broader Immigration 360 project, which aims to modernise border controls nationwide.

The GIS also emphasised the government’s commitment to transparent resource management, noting that the digital border control system will enhance travel, trade, and security while improving the overall efficiency of Ghana’s entry points.

For many, the introduction of the e-gates marks an exciting step forward for Ghana’s infrastructure and technological landscape and a promising start to a more efficient future for travellers.