A CCTV video circulating on social media has sparked fresh concerns about alleged extortion and the solicitation of money from passengers at Kotoka International Airport.
The footage, seen in the material provided to GhanaMedia.net, appears to show airport security personnel interacting with a passenger during a screening process, with money apparently changing hands.
However, GhanaMedia.net has not independently established the authenticity, date or full circumstances surrounding the latest footage. The identities of the individuals shown and the reason for the apparent exchange have also not been independently confirmed.
The video nevertheless comes at a time when authorities have intensified efforts to tackle alleged extortion and unofficial payments across Ghana’s airports.
GACL has already taken disciplinary action
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) announced in August that it had stepped up measures against airport personnel accused of soliciting money from passengers.
On August 4, GACL Managing Director Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare disclosed that two car park workers at Kotoka International Airport had been dismissed after repeated passenger complaints that they were asking travellers for money.
GACL subsequently announced additional enforcement measures, including a mystery-shopping programme, tougher sanctions and a dedicated reporting mechanism for passengers.
The company also said personnel found culpable could be barred from working at airports under its management.
Immigration officer previously transferred
The latest video also follows an earlier case involving a Ghana Immigration Service officer.
GACL said in an August 6 statement that it had taken note of a viral video allegedly showing a GIS officer demanding “breakfast” money from a passenger.
According to GACL, the Ghana Immigration Service confirmed that the officer had subsequently been transferred from the airport.
That case was separate from another incident involving two Port Health officers who were barred from working at Accra International Airport and other GACL-operated airports after they were found to have charged a foreign passenger US$40 for a Yellow Fever Card, despite an approved fee of US$20. Their airport identification cards were withdrawn and deactivated.
The latest footage remains unverified
While the circulating CCTV footage is generating renewed discussion online, it is important not to treat the video alone as proof that the people shown committed bribery or extortion.
A visible exchange of money can have different explanations, and the footage available to GhanaMedia.net does not establish what preceded or followed the interaction.
There has also been no official statement located confirming that the individuals in the latest footage have been identified, investigated or sanctioned.
The distinction is important because allegations involving security personnel can have serious consequences for individuals and institutions.
Authorities want passengers to report suspicious demands
GACL has urged passengers to help expose inappropriate demands for money at airports.
The company has encouraged travellers to document incidents and use its reporting channels when they encounter suspected extortion or inappropriate conduct.
Recent guidance published amid the crackdown has also encouraged passengers to establish what they are paying for, verify the identity of people requesting payments and ask for official receipts where applicable.
GACL has established a dedicated extortion reporting hotline: 054 217 5636, with reports accepted through calls, WhatsApp and SMS.
Why the issue matters
Kotoka International Airport is one of the first points of contact for many visitors arriving in Ghana.
For passengers unfamiliar with Ghanaian procedures, an individual operating inside a controlled airport environment can appear to have official authority. This makes transparency around fees, procedures and staff conduct particularly important.
The wider crackdown therefore goes beyond individual allegations. It touches on passenger confidence, Ghana’s international image and trust in institutions responsible for aviation, immigration, health and security.
President John Dramani Mahama has also backed tougher action against airport workers who solicit or beg visitors for tips, warning that such conduct reflects badly on Ghana.
GhanaMedia.net’s verification note
GhanaMedia.net has independently verified the broader airport anti-extortion campaign and previous disciplinary actions announced by GACL. However, the authenticity and circumstances of the specific CCTV footage supplied for this report have not been independently established.
GhanaMedia.net therefore does not identify the individuals shown as having committed bribery or extortion as a proven fact.
Any official investigation or response concerning the latest footage will be important in establishing what actually occurred.
