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 to back its implementation.
His statement, made during his vetting in Parliament on January 20, raises significant concerns about the procurement process and financial transparency surrounding the project.
The E-Gate system, which was introduced to modernize operations at Ghana’s main international airport, was initially said to have cost the government $240 million.
However, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) denied these claims in December 2024, labeling the figures as inaccurate.
Agbodza, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, explained that the E-Gate system was part of a broader modernization initiative by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and was meant to be implemented at no cost to the government.
“The E-Gate system was supposed to be a complimentary feature under the GCAA’s modernization efforts. There is no formal contract for the E-Gate, and no agreement for the $1.7 million they were referring to,” he said while addressing the Appointments Committee.
He also expressed criticism of the government’s handling of the project, suggesting that earlier attention could have prevented the embarrassment during the former Vice President’s attempt to commission the project.
Agbodza noted that the GCAA was already working on a similar system at no additional cost.
Further, he shared that a memo was eventually prepared for the project, following his initial concerns. However, he emphasized that the lack of a formal contract undermines the credibility of the initiative.
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