Prez Akufo-Addo Orders Immediate Withdrawal of the $7 Airport Fumigation Levy
President Akufo-Addo has issued a directive ordering the Ghana Airport Company Board, headed by Paul Adom Otchere, and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to immediately retract the proposed $7 Fumigation levy at the airport.
According to some close sources, upon his return from France late two nights ago, the President summoned Paul Adom Otchere, the Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company, and instructed him to reverse the policy.
Both the President and his sector minister were reportedly unaware of the levy imposed by the Ghana Health Service on passengers, which required a fee of $7 per passenger on each international airline ticket sold. The funds were to be remitted to the government agency as a luggage fumigation charge.
The Minority in Parliament has already raised concerns about the $7 charge imposed by the government, deeming it illegal. They argue that only Parliament has the authority to impose fees and charges.
Kwame Agbodza, the Minority Chief Whip and Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee, has urged airlines to disregard the government’s directive to charge the amount. He labeled the charge as absurd and emphasized that no government agency has the right to impose additional fees without the knowledge of Parliament. He encouraged airlines to refrain from implementing the charge until a consensus is reached.
If the $7 fumigation charge were to be implemented, it would result in further increases in airfares, which are already elevated due to high aviation fuel costs, a weak local currency, and the general economic challenges experienced since last year.
