By Ashiadey Dotse
The Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has disclosed that the controversial E-Gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) does not have a formal contract in place.
Speaking during his vetting in Parliament on Monday, January 20, Agbodza questioned the procurement process and financial details surrounding the project, which was reportedly set to cost $240 million.
The E-Gate system was introduced to modernize operations at Ghana’s main international airport. However, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) previously dismissed claims about the $240 million cost as inaccurate in a statement issued on December 19, 2024.
Agbodza, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, explained that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had been working on a similar system as part of its modernization efforts. He stated that the E-Gate was initially planned as a complimentary feature at no extra cost to the government.
“If the government had listened to what I was saying, it wouldn’t have led to the embarrassment we saw at the airport when the former Vice President was trying to commission it,” Agbodza said.
He further revealed, “There is not even any contract for the E-Gate. There is no contract for the $1.7 million they were talking about. When I started raising concerns, the GCAA was already implementing a similar project, and the E-Gate was supposed to be free. Later, a memo was hurriedly prepared for it.”
This revelation raises concerns about transparency in the procurement process and casts doubt on the decision-making behind the project.
