The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has closed down McDan Aviation’s Private Jet Terminal at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) due to an outstanding debt exceeding $3 million. The debt, which includes unpaid land leases, rentals, and terminal charges, remained unsettled despite a deadline extension set for Christmas.
This marks the second closure of McDan Aviation’s operations in less than two years. The first shutdown occurred in February 2022, when GACL indefinitely barred the company from operating at Terminal 1 of KIA, citing alleged operational violations.
In a January 31, 2022 letter signed by GACL’s Managing Director, Yaw Kwakwa, McDan Aviation was accused of failing to adhere to operational terms and conditions required for the private jet terminal. The letter instructed the company to hand over the terminal keys to facilitate an inventory review. Key stakeholders, including the President’s Secretary, the Minister of Transport, and the Director-General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), were copied on the letter.
McDan Aviation officially launched its private jet terminal on January 28, 2022, positioning it as the first of its kind in Ghana. However, the launch was overshadowed by controversy. Aviation stakeholders, including Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah and GACL officials, boycotted the event, citing unresolved operational concerns and the company’s noncompliance with regulations.
Despite the earlier warnings and suspension, McDan Aviation has struggled to meet its financial and operational obligations. The latest shutdown underscores the company’s ongoing challenges in adhering to the regulatory and financial requirements set by GACL.
Source: InsiderGH.com
