There is no contract for E-Gate at KIA – Agbodza claims

The Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has revealed that the controversial E-Gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) lacks a formal contract.

This revelation, made during his vetting in Parliament on Monday, January 20, raises serious questions about the procurement process and financial claims surrounding the project.

The E-Gate system, introduced as part of efforts to modernise operations at Ghana’s premier international airport, was reportedly set to cost the government a staggering $240 million.

However, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) refuted these claims in a statement issued on December 19, 2024, dismissing the alleged cost as inaccurate.

Agbodza, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, provided additional details during his appearance before the Appointments Committee stating that the project was part of ongoing work by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and was initially intended to be implemented at no cost to the government.

The Minister-Designate explained that the GCAA had already been working on a similar system as part of its broader modernisation efforts. According to him, the E-Gate was meant to be developed as a complimentary feature, requiring no additional cost.

“If the government had listened to what I was saying, it wouldn’t have resulted in some of the embarrassment we saw at the airport when the former Vice President was trying to commission it. 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 talking, this project was already being implemented by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the E-Gate was supposed to be done for free so when I started talking, they went and prepared a memo for it.”