GACL makes U-turn over interdiction of officer who searched Kan-Dapaah at Kumasi Airport

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has backtracked for interdicting an Aviation Security Officer who conducted a pre-boarding search on the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah.

GACL said the new directive was due to “further consultations and facts which have since come to its attention.”

The company announced that a Committee of Enquiry set-up to investigate the matter “shall proceed with its mandate as spelt out in the Convening Order”.

Background

Earlier, an aviation security officer at the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) was interdicted for conducting a pre-boarding search on the National Security Minister.

The search is said to have been conducted at the VVIP Lounge at the Kumasi Airport on 8 September 2022.

According to the GACL, the action by the security officer named Awudu Basit was an embarrassment to the minister.

A letter signed by the officer in charge of human capital and officer service at GACL, R. S. Tagoe, noted that the search created a “negative impression”.

“In view of the negative impression it cast on the company’s image and integrity, management has decided to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to this incident,” portion of the letter read.

As a punitive measure, the GACL said Mr Basit “will be paid two-thirds of his salary during the period of interdiction.”

The interdiction was to pave the way for a thorough investigation.