Lawyer Petitions Mahama To Suspend AIA’s Terminal 2 Project

A private legal practitioner, Charles Akoto Lamptey Jnr, has formally petitioned the President of Ghana to halt ongoing works on Terminal 2 at Accra International Airport, citing concerns over procurement integrity, cost-effectiveness, and long-term infrastructure planning.

In his petition, the lawyer argues that past technical assessments and institutional decisions had already deemed Terminal 2 inadequate, leading to the construction of Terminal 3 as a modern replacement.

That decision, he noted, was based on engineering limitations, operational inefficiencies and increasing passenger demand.

He, however, questioned the current project, officially described as “repurposing”, arguing that the scope of work, which includes leak repairs, ceiling replacements and structural fixes is more accurately refurbishment.

“The distinction is not merely semantic,” the petition emphasised, warning that mislabelling refurbishment as repurposing could distort procurement processes and undermine the justification for public spending.

The petitioner cautioned that investing in ageing infrastructure may prove economically unsound.

While refurbishment is often presented as cost-saving, he described it as a “false economy,” arguing that older facilities are not designed to meet modern aviation standards.

According to the petition, continuous retrofitting could result in rising maintenance costs, operational inefficiencies, and limited revenue potential. By contrast, full reconstruction—though more capital-intensive would offer long-term benefits, including improved efficiency, scalability and commercial viability.

He also warned that dividing passenger traffic between terminals could affect the performance and return on investment of Terminal 3, potentially weakening Ghana’s position as a regional aviation hub.

The petition further raises concerns about compliance with Ghana’s public financial and procurement laws, including the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

The Lawyer argued that continued investment in a facility previously considered obsolete could expose public officials to audit queries, disallowances and possible surcharges under the country’s accountability framework.

He stressed that public institutions must not only act within the law, but also remain consistent with earlier evidence-based decisions.

Beyond financial and legal considerations, the petition highlights potential security implications. Modern airport terminals, it noted, rely on integrated systems such as biometric screening, advanced baggage handling and surveillance technologies.

Terminal 2, described as a legacy structure, is said to have design limitations that may hinder the effective integration of such systems.

The petitioner warned that piecemeal upgrades may fail to address these gaps, potentially creating vulnerabilities.

As part of the process, the lawyer has submitted a request to the Ghana Airports Company Limited under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), seeking access to key documents related to the project.

These include engineering reports, procurement records, board decisions, and contractor details, aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

The petition frames the issue as a critical strategic choice for Ghana’s aviation sector. While the country aspires to become a leading aviation hub in West Africa, the Lawyer argued that this goal cannot be achieved through incremental upgrades to outdated infrastructure.

“The choice before us is not technical but strategic,” the petition concluded, urging the government to prioritise future-ready infrastructure over short-term fixes.

The petitioner is, therefore, calling for a complete reassessment of the project, advocating for full reconstruction of Terminal 2 to avoid long-term financial inefficiencies and safeguard Ghana’s aviation ambitions.

 

 

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