Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

The fate of Sammy Gyamfi, the Acting CEO of the newly established Goldbod stands in the balance as the Minority in Parliament has called for his dismissal and possibly prosecution following a recent act of dolling out US dollars to one Patricia Nana Agradaa.

In a viral video making rounds on social media since Saturday, Mr Sammy Gyamfi was captured dashing out dollars to the said woman attracting varied response on the matter.
This, the Minority at a press briefing on Monday, May 12, 2025.

demanded

1. The immediate sanctioning of Sammy Gyamfi as Acting CEO of the Ghana Gold Board.

2. A full-scale investigation into the source of the dollar bundles displayed in the viral video.

3. An apology from the Presidency to the Ghanaian people for the insult this act represents to those suffering under this failed economy.

This display of financial recklessness is not only a betrayal of public trust but a slap in the face of millions of Ghanaians currently grappling with the devastating effects of the cedi, inflation, and the unbearable cost of living, the Minority stated.

They contend that this is not an isolated moment of indiscretion; it is symptomatic of a broader culture of abuse, impunity, and moral decay in the heart of this NDC government.

Again they argued that the incident undermines efforts to stabilize the Ghanaian economy, and particularly the cedi that has recorded some marginal stability.

An action on Sammy Gyamfi’s action, they noted will give credence to the recently launched code of conduct for appointees, which requires them to place the national interest, eschew opulence and be accountable for the use of public funds among others.

Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama, The Member of Parliament for Walewale who addressed the media on behalf of the Minority also noted that Sammy Gyamfi’s act also challenged the financial and Monetary laws of the country. “The foreign exchange Act, 2006 (Act 723) proscribed under Section 3(1) & (4) a person engaging in the business of dealing in foreign exchange without a license issued under this act”.

As such he deserves to be punished if the government is serious about resetting the country.

Ghanamps.com

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport has pledged its support for a potential review of the domestic Airport Passenger Service Charge (APSC), following an impassioned appeal from the Managing Director of Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Mrs. Yvonne Afriyie Opare, during a recent familiarization visit.

Speaking during the committee’s two-day oversight tour of agencies under the Ministry of Transport, Mrs. Opare lamented that the APSC for domestic flights has remained at GH₵5.00 since 2013, calling the situation “financially unsustainable” and a risk to the future of regional airports.

“Our domestic APSC has been an issue that has persisted over the years. We’ve been at GH¢5.00 for each flight since 2013, which we have been using to support all our regional airports.”

“It is not sustainable. We are relying heavily on the international passenger charges to fund the rest of the airports, and that’s not a long-term solution,” she told the Committee.

She called on the Committee to intervene and support a proposal for an upward adjustment.

Members of the Committee expressed general support for the proposal, acknowledging the need to review the outdated charge to reflect current economic realities and infrastructure needs better.

“Since the price has been GH¢5.00 since 2013, I believe the Committee could ponder over it and see how we could support it so there would be a bit of an increment. If you are charging GH¢10.00 per person and it’s going to a good cause, I don’t think it’s much of a big deal,” a member pointed out.

However, the Committee also emphasized the need for full transparency and clear public communication to justify any increase.

“What worries me is that for over 10 years, we didn’t do anything about this issue. We need to understand why it stayed so low for so long. If we’re going to back this, we must be able to explain it to Ghanaians.”

“In principle, the current charge is very low — something must be done,” the Chairperson Hon. Isaac Adjei Mensah said.

He noted that the committee’s visits to the Ministry and agencies were not intended to witch-hunt, but to validate progress and challenges within the transport sector.

Ranking Member Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko (Akim Swedru) echoed support for revisiting the APSC and stressed a bipartisan approach.

“This is not a partisan issue. It’s about the sustainability of our airports. If we allow this situation to persist, we risk deteriorating infrastructure.”

“We’ll take this matter up with the Minister and possibly Cabinet. But any review will have to follow proper procedure under the Fees Act,” he said.

Vice Chairperson Hon. Andrew Chiwitey Dari (Sawla/Tuna/Kalba) reiterated the committee’s non-partisan commitment.

According to him, what is needed is to ensure that Ghana works again adding, “We’re working as a team.”

Hon. Ziedeng Anwataazumo Bede (Lawra), a member of the Committee added that the agencies had cooperated fully and provided a clear picture of both achievements and needs.

“Our interaction with them has been very productive. They have asked for our support to overcome their challenges, and that’s what we intend to do,” he said.

As the monitoring visit for the week concluded at the Ghana Airports Company, the Committee committed to compiling a formal report of its observations and submitting it to the Minister for Transport. A review of the domestic APSC will likely be a key recommendation.

Ghanamps.com

The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, has called for enhanced collaboration between Ghana’s Maritime and aviation sectors to improve operational efficiency and safety, particularly in search and rescue operations.

Speaking during a familiarization visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport on Wednesday, May 7, Dr. Ali emphasized the interconnected nature of the two sectors, noting that over 70 per cent of the world’s surface is covered by water.

Dr. Ali stressed the critical need for coordinated efforts between the GMA and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), especially in emergencies involving aircraft over water.

“If there is any disaster involving an aircraft at sea, it calls for intense collaboration between us and Civil Aviation,” he noted.

He explained that aircraft often chart flight paths over water to optimize travel time, further necessitating maritime involvement during emergencies.

The Director-General pointed out that the GMA’s mandate goes beyond Ghana’s territorial waters, covering a vast search and rescue region extending as far as Liberia.

However, he expressed concern over the lack of well-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) between the GMA and GCAA.

“What has been the case is that we and Civil Aviation have not developed that strong relationship of working,” Dr. Ali said, calling for daily communication and joint protocols to ensure seamless coordination—especially in cases involving aircraft operations from ships.

Dr. Ali also discussed the broader responsibilities of the Ghana Maritime Authority, including oversight of Ghana’s maritime zones—from the 12-nautical-mile territorial seas to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

He referenced the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) framework, which encourages cooperation between the aviation and maritime sectors globally.

Beyond coastal oversight, Dr. Ali underscored GMA’s work on inland waterways, particularly the Volta Lake, which continues to face challenges from seaweed overgrowth. He revealed that the Authority has supplied skimmers to the Volta River Authority (VRA) to help manage the situation, although VRA has not financially contributed to their procurement or maintenance.

“We have good protocols in place, and they are handling the skimmers to help clear the seaweeds—but we still have to support them,” he said.

Dr. Kamal-Deen outlined a series of strategic initiatives aimed at improving Ghana’s maritime and inland transport systems, with an emphasis on job creation and economic development.

He acknowledged the financial limitations in expanding transport safety infrastructure on Volta Lake, as many inland boat operators lack the capacity to pay for services.

“As an agency of the Ministry of Transport, we are pursuing key initiatives such as promoting seafaring, expanding inland waterways, and developing postal transport. These are all part of efforts to drive employment and improve economic activity, especially in coastal and riverine communities,” he added.

Dr. Ali stressed the importance of continued collaboration with Parliament and the Ministry of Transport, to ensure the necessary legal and institutional support for the successful implementation of these initiatives – in alignment with President John Mahama’s national development vision.

Ghanamps.com

A wave of transformative initiatives is set to bolster Ghana’s maritime and inland transport systems, promising significant job creation and economic development, particularly for coastal and riverine communities.

Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), unveiled these ambitious plans during a familiarization visit by members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and the Presidency, Dr. Ali confirmed the Authority is spearheading critical transport reforms aligned with President John Mahama’s national development vision.

“As an agency of the Ministry of Transport, we are pursuing key initiatives such as promoting seafaring, expanding inland waterways, and developing postal transport. These are all part of efforts to drive employment and improve economic activity, especially in coastal and riverine communities,” Dr. Ali stated. ”

The Director-General underscored the role of parliamentary cooperation in providing the necessary legal and institutional frameworks for these sweeping changes.

“Ultimately, the executive will have to work with Parliament. Through our Minister and the executive, these proposals will be brought to Parliament for the necessary support,” he noted.

A critical focus of the new strategy is the urgent need for enhanced collaboration between the GMA and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Dr. Ali underscored the often-underestimated intersection between maritime and aviation, particularly concerning aircraft traversing Ghana’s extensive airspace.

“The world is bluer than brown – 70 per cent of it is covered by water. If there is any aviation disaster over the sea, both Civil Aviation and Maritime must coordinate swiftly. We’ve not yet developed a strong working relationship. That’s why I’m drawing attention to the need for joint Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), daily communication, and cross-sector coordination,” Dr. Ali explained, stressing that many aircraft choose routes over water.

This call for synergy is particularly relevant given the GMA’s oversight of a vast maritime search and rescue (SAR) zone, extending far beyond Ghana’s territorial waters to regions as distant as Liberia. This responsibility necessitates robust coordination with neighbouring maritime authorities and aviation bodies, guided by the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) agreement, which Ghana upholds.

Dr. Ali, further emphasizing the interconnectedness, pointed out that both maritime and national airspaces share jurisdiction over the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), reinforcing the imperative for integrated operational frameworks,.

According to him, the GMA is already making strides with operational deployment to Kpandu, a major loading site on the Volta Lake. The Authority is also tackling environmental challenges, such as seaweed invasions, by procuring and deploying skimmers.

“We provided skimmers to the Volta River Authority (VRA) to help manage seaweed infestations affecting lake transport. Although VRA is using them, they remain GMA assets purchased for national benefit,” Dr. Ali clarified.

While acknowledging resource constraints and the low revenue-generating capacity of inland boat operators, who currently do not pay operational fees, the Director-General reaffirmed the GMA’s commitment to progressively improving safety and infrastructure as resources permit.

Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee commended the GMA for its strategic foresight. They pledged their support for policies to modernize and diversify Ghana’s transport infrastructure, aligning with national development objectives.

Ghanamps.com

Air transport fares within the West African sub-region remain the highest in the world, Mr. Sédiko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, has said.

Douka also revealed that recent studies conducted by renowned organizations showed that air transportation within West Africa is still less than 10%, which represents the lowest. He said the situation has become a barrier to the integration of the region.

Douka spoke in Lome on Tuesday at the opening of the Sixth Legislature of ECOWAS Parliament Delocalised meeting of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources.

The theme of the meeting is: “Air transport as a means of integrating the peoples of West Africa: Strategy for reducing the cost of air ticket.”

He said the ECOWAS leadership is concerned with the situation and has therefore charged the Commission to coordinate and harmonize the air transport policies, programs, and projects of Member States.

He stressed the importance of the Lome meeting to address the gap, revealing that the meeting has the blessing of the Heads of State and Government.

He said: “The air tariff in West Africa remains excessively high compared to other countries in the world. In this case, it is less expensive to make the flight to another African country than to travel between two countries in ECOWAS. This situation is counterproductive for the future of the West African region and the collective airspace.”

He also added that “recent studies conducted by renowned organizations in 2024 have shown low growth in air transport in West Africa (less than 10%). This, at a time when other regions, for example, record 40.4% for North Africa, 21.4% for Southern Africa, and 20.5% for East Africa. Other comparisons made in terms of domestic flights, intra-African travel, major airlines, and airport size have also shown that West Africa lags far behind these same regions mentioned above.”

He continued: “In accordance with Article 32 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty, the statutory bodies have mandated the Commission to coordinate and harmonize the air transport policies, programs, and projects of Member States. Likewise, to contribute all initiatives, strategies, and action plans aimed at improving air transport within its territory.”

“In this context, in 2017, the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with Member States, conducted a study on a common policy on fees, taxes, and charges in air transport, the final report of which was submitted in 2018 in Accra.”

“This policy was reviewed through validation workshops held by experts and ministers responsible for air transport from member states in May 2021. Subsequently, a task force was created to reflect on and submit recommendations on (i) updating the status of fees, taxes, and charges, and (ii) the total elimination or reduction of certain taxes and charges. This is in line with international best practices in the air transport sector. Furthermore, during the sixty-fifth (65th) ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, held on July 7, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government noted in the final communiqué the need to make air transport more accessible and affordable by reducing the cost of air travel to support the regional integration agenda.”

“In response to this instruction, a meeting of Ministers responsible for Air Transport was convened on November 8, 2024, here in Lomé. The meeting concluded with modalities for the gradual reduction of taxes, fees, and charges aimed at making air transport more affordable. Thus, an Additional Act A/SA.2/12/24 6, relating to the common policy on fees, taxes and air transport charges in ECOWAS Member States and its implementation strategy, were adopted by the Ministers and submitted to the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on December 15, 2024, which endorsed them.”

“Our primary concern is to comply with ICAO principles and recommendations on setting charges, which are: (i) non-discrimination between users, (ii) transparency, appropriate pricing for services provided, and (iii) user consultation.”

The recommendations made by the Ministers to Member States for efficient regional air transport include, among others:

• Commit to eliminating all taxes in accordance with these ICAO principles and recommendations;

• Reduce the passenger service charge and the security charge by 25%;

• Reduce the cost of aviation fuel, etc.

“All these, with the aim, I say, of making our region efficient in terms of air transport, with its 400 million inhabitants.”

He also charged the meeting to consider the issue of common rules for passenger compensation in the event of denied boarding, cancellation, or significant delays of a flight within the ECOWAS region.

He further added: “The task now lies in working towards the implementation of these community texts by ECOWAS member states, whose effective implementation start date has been set for January 1, 2026, a 15-month period to allow them to prepare, particularly from a budgetary perspective.”

The ECOWAS Commissioner also charged Members of Parliament that the region is counting on them to implement the community texts that the states themselves initiated and participated in the development, review, and adoption process.

He therefore urged them to engage strongly with member states to raise awareness about the implementation of these additional acts with a view to the sustainable development of air transport in West Africa.

“As ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is an opportune time to highlight the organization’s visibility. While many achievements have been made in various areas/sectors of regional integration, these remain largely unknown to ordinary citizens, either due to a lack of awareness, communication, or simply the highly political orientation given to ECOWAS’s vision by stakeholders. Opportunities such as these allow you, as a Representative of the People, to gain a comprehensive view of the challenges, issues, strengths/weaknesses, opportunities/threats, and sectoral achievements,” he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set plans in motion to address the high cost of air transport within the sub-region.

According to the Co-Chair of the Delocalised Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Sekou Momadu, the prohibitive cost of airfare remains a real obstacle to the successful integration of West African peoples.

Momadu, who spoke at the opening of the joint meeting of the Sixth Legislature in Lome, Togo on Tuesday, stressed that high airfares within the region have continued to undermine the significant progress made by the regional body.
The theme of the meeting is “Air Transport as a Means of Integrating West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airfare Costs.”

He noted that despite the significant progress and achievements of ECOWAS, numerous obstacles still remain, with high airfare being one of the most prominent.

“Indeed, the prohibitive cost of airfare is a real obstacle to the benefits of successful integration for West African peoples who want to see their travel facilitated to strengthen ties among ECOWAS citizens, enable local entrepreneurs to expand their markets, allow investors to explore new opportunities, and promote regional tourism,” he said.

Momadu recalled that the Authority of Heads of State and Government, at its 65th Summit held in Abuja in July 2024, identified the cost of air travel within the ECOWAS region as one of the highest on the African continent. He observed that airfares in West Africa remain excessively high compared to other regions of the world, and in some cases, it is cheaper to travel outside the African continent than between two ECOWAS member states.

“This situation is counterproductive to the vision of a borderless and interconnected region,” he added.

He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to proffer solutions that would help reduce the cost of airfare within the region.

“Indeed, our Supplementary Act requires us to engage with our constituents and share with them the challenges they face in order to make recommendations to the relevant authorities or institutions for applicable solutions.

“That is why we are gathered here, with the objective of examining together—through expert presentations, panel discussions, and direct exchanges with key stakeholders—strategies and policies likely to contribute to reducing the cost of airfare in our sub-region. This includes exploring best practices in regulatory reforms, infrastructure development, tax policies, and airline operations,” he stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, has decried the high cost of air travel within the West African sub-region, describing it as a major obstacle to free movement and regional integration.

Ibrahima emphasized that air transport is a vital tool for economic development and regional integration, noting that there can be no free movement of people without effective and affordable transport facilitation.

She made these remarks on Tuesday during the opening of the Sixth Legislature Delocalised Meeting of the Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Energy and Mines, Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources, held in Lomé, Togo. The meeting, themed “Air Transport as a Means of Integration for West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airline Ticket Costs,” brought together regional stakeholders and experts to discuss the way forward.

She said: “The theme that brings us together today, ‘Air Transport as a Means of Integration for West African Peoples: A Strategy for Reducing Airline Ticket Costs,’ is of paramount importance to our community. It reflects a major issue facing our citizens: the prohibitive costs of air travel between our countries, which hinder the free movement of people and compromise our ambitions for regional integration.

“Therefore, there is no need to emphasize the importance of air transport in a country’s economy, especially within a sub-regional community. Indeed, air transport is an essential lever for economic development and sub-regional integration. It promotes trade, stimulates tourism, strengthens cultural and social ties, and contributes to the growth of our economies. In reality, there can be no free movement without transport facilitation. And among these facilitations, transport costs figure prominently.”

Ibrahima attributed the soaring airfares to multiple taxes and charges imposed across airports in the region; stating that these airports contribute financially to state budgets in several ways, including landing fees, air ticket taxes, security taxes, non-aviation taxes, and revenues from commercial activities at the airport. However, it is clear that all these fees make air ticket costs prohibitive within the ECOWAS region, thus hampering a major driver of development – tourism.

She further pointed to other contributing factors, including fragmentation of the aviation market and poor infrastructure.

“For my part, several factors may contribute to the high cost of air fares in our region. These include, among others: excessive taxation and high airport fees; a fragmented aviation market, with national airlines operating in isolation rather than in synergy; a lack of modern infrastructure adapted to the needs of air transport; weak implementation of agreements liberalizing African airspace, notably the Yamoussoukro Declaration.”

Warning of the implications for the region’s long-term goals, Ibrahima noted that the ECOWAS Vision 2050 would remain elusive without an efficient and affordable air transport system.

“If we are to achieve the objectives of the third pillar of ECOWAS Vision 2050, ‘Economic Integration and Interconnectivity,’ it is up to us, as representatives of the peoples of ECOWAS and in view of our responsibility in the Community’s decision-making process, to explore viable and sustainable solutions. Our role is crucial in the realization of these reforms.”

She therefore urged the Legislature to develop strong recommendations that would guide Member States and relevant institutions in establishing a policy framework for more accessible regional air transport.

“I am convinced that the discussions that will take place during this meeting, to which we have invited African air transport experts and leaders, will be fruitful and will lead to concrete proposals to address this major challenge.

“Together, let us commit to working towards more efficient regional aviation, serving the integration and development of our community and for significant progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the aspirations that underpinned the African Union’s Agenda 2063.”

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com