In the wake of alarming revelations from the 2024 Auditor-General’s report, showing that more than 2,000 illegal firearms and rounds of ammunition were seized at airports, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has moved to clarify its firearms policy for air travelers. Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, GACL Managing Director Yvonne Opare addressed concerns about how firearms are handled at the country’s airports. She explained that the company, working under new directives from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, has put in place a fortified weapons declaration policy designed to boost safety and security for all passengers. “Anyone who wants to travel with a firearm must have the correct license and must formally declare the weapon to airport security before boarding,” Opare stated. “If you do not have the proper authorization, or you fail to declare your firearm, even if it is licensed, the weapon will be confiscated and handed over to the National Investigation Bureau.” Opare pointed out that, in previous years, there was no clear legal framework regulating the carriage of firearms through Ghana’s airports. Now, however, the rules are strict: only legally registered firearms that have been properly declared are permitted on flights. Any weapon discovered without proper paperwork or declaration is seized immediately. The strengthened procedures, she emphasized, are part of ongoing efforts to keep Ghana’s airports safe and to ensure that all firearms are accounted for before any passenger takes to the skies. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
