A spokesperson for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described the dispute between Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the McDan Group of Companies as being influenced heavily by political factors rather than being a straightforward legal conflict.
Awal Mohammed, a member of the NPP communications team, made these remarks during an interview on The AM Show aired on JoyNews, emphasising that while there are legal elements at play, the context surrounding the controversy suggests it goes beyond contractual disagreements.
He referenced comments by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa during the election period, when the opposition MP raised concerns about alleged state capture, mentioning McDan’s involvement in several airport contracts including work at Terminal 1 of the Kotoka International Airport.
Mr Mohammed recalled that after the elections, GACL moved to shut down operations at Terminal 1, claiming that McDan owed approximately $3.9 million in ground rent, a figure the company disputed, saying it was actually $2 million and that much of that amount had been paid.
According to the NPP communicator, the FBO facility was briefly restored before the situation escalated into judicial proceedings. He outlined that GACL had obtained a court ruling permitting eviction of the company from the site, while McDan responded with a notice of appeal and sought a stay of execution.
Describing the situation as more than a purely legal matter, Mr Mohammed stated: “So it’s legal, but it’s largely political.” He suggested that actions taken, including an eviction and alleged disregard of contractual notice periods could discourage private investors from engaging in Ghana’s aviation sector if not addressed appropriately.
Mr Mohammed also observed that McDan has maintained that it has paid much of the ground rent contested by the airport authority and raised concerns regarding how eviction notices were served, implying potential breaches of contract.
He concluded by underlining the need for a resolution that protects both legal rights and commercial incentives in Ghana’s aviation industry.