Ghana Gov’t Introduces GHC 100 Airport Charge To Fund Major Upgrades | By Dominick Andoh
Domestic air passengers may soon pay an additional GHC100 Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC) if Parliament approves the 2026 Budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
The new charge, separate from the existing Airport Passenger Service Charge (APSC), is designed to finance a portfolio of major airport projects nationwide.
According to the Budget Statement, the AIDC will fund the construction of a new domestic terminal for Kumasi, the long-demanded concourse linking Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport, the expansion of the Sunyani Airport, and other critical infrastructure upgrades.
The charge will have a defined sunset clause, meaning it will be removed once the targeted projects are completed.
AviationGhana has learned that, once implementation begins, domestic passengers will pay GHC100 per ticket, marking the first major adjustment to Ghana’s domestic airport charges in over a decade.
Kotoka Subsidising All Regional Airports
The Auditor-General’s Reports of the past two years have repeatedly flagged a major issue. The AG’s reports show that none of Ghana’s regional airports is financially self-sustaining. Due to the extremely low APSC of GHC5 per domestic passenger, airports such as Tamale, Wa, Ho, Sunyani and Kumasi generate insufficient revenue to cover basic operations.
As a result, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), which handles the profitable international traffic, has been forced to subsidize the operational costs of all regional airports. AviationGhana has previously reported the concerns of industry experts who argue that the current fee structure is “unsustainable” and prevents maintenance, expansion and safety improvements across Ghana’s airport network.
Experts Back Increase in Airport Charges
African aviation expert, Sean Mendis, has also highlighted that Ghana must “either increase domestic airport charges or continue watching KIA collapse under the financial burden of subsidising the entire system.”
Successive GACL Managing Directors have all called for an upward increase in domestic passenger taxes. Aviation consultant and former GACL Managing Director and board member, Mr. Charles Asare, is among experts who have publicly backed calls for an increase in domestic airport charges.
In an earlier interview with AviationGhana, he noted that Ghana’s APSC of GHC5 per passenger is “the lowest in West Africa.”
AIDC seen as necessary but must be transparent
While the new GHC100 AIDC is expected to face public scrutiny, industry stakeholders argue that it is necessary if Ghana expects to complete major airport projects without burdening the national budget. However, they insist that strict transparency and reporting must accompany the revenue collected to ensure the charge is removed as soon as projects are completed.
If Parliament approves the 2026 Budget, domestic air travel costs will rise, but Ghana’s long-delayed airport infrastructure upgrades may finally get the financial backing they require
