Airport tax, is this the resetting?’ – Minority kicks against proposed increase in airport passenger service charge.

The Minority in Parliament has kicked against the government’s intention to raise the airport passenger service charge from GHC5 to GHC100 in 2026, saying the proposed adjustment is illegal since it has not been approved under the Fees Act.

Currently, airport passenger service for domestic flights is GHC5, international economy is GHC100, and international business is GHC150.
A report by the Roads and Transport Committee on the 2026 budget estimates for the sector recommended that the airport service charge for domestic flights be increased from GHC5 to GHC100.

The Committee says the current charge is inadequate to support the financing, operation, and maintenance of the country’s airport infrastructure.

“The Committee observed that the previous Airport Passenger Service Charge (APSC) level was insufficient to meet the rising costs associated with airport development and upkeep, particularly in light of substantial capital investments made in major aviation projects such as the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Terminal 3, and ongoing expansion works in Kumasi and Tamale.

“The Committee therefore acknowledged the rationale for revising the APSC to GHC100 and considers the adjustment a positive step toward improving revenue adequacy and strengthening the financial sustainability of airport operations,” portions of the committee’s report noted.
But the Minority insists any attempt to charge new fees must first be approved by Parliament, especially under the Fees Act.

Okaikwei Central MP, Patrick Yaw Boamah, raised concerns about the proposed increment on the floor of the House on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
He said the increment is unacceptable, questioning the government’s resetting agenda.

“The Ministry is seeking to increase the airport passenger service charge from GHC5 to GHC100 per passenger. The Government is hiding this in the report. This is a 1000 percent increase on both domestic and international flights.
“Mr. Speaker, this is a severe charge that the country must be made aware of. Airport tax, is this the resetting? Now you can’t even drive on our roads, and flying, too, has become too expensive. Is this what they promised this country?” he

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe said there is a need to increase revenue volumes at the airports to aid in taking care of and running Ghana’s airports.

He noted that since 2014, the Transport Ministry and the Ghana Airports Company have not increased any service charge at the airports, insisting that most of the airports are dependent on the Kotoka International Airport.

“So the Committee was recommending to the House that in the next fees Act, the Ministry will be considered to increase our airport service charge.

“There’s a need that we should do something to increase our revenue volumes to be able to cater and run our airports to be the enviable airports within the West Africa Sub-region,” he told journalists in Parliament on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

He emphasised that the amount is only a recommendation by the Roads and Transport Committee and has not yet been implemented.

He continued: “If we want to have the best services in the West Africa sub-region, we have to look at how we will raise revenue to maintain and improve. It is not for me to make a promise that it is going to be made the same; it is for us to look at the reality on the ground and see how we will raise revenue to be able to advance our airport facilities.”