Over 2,000 Ammunition Rounds and 20 Weapons Intercepted at Kotoka in 2023
More than 2,000 rounds of ammunition and 20 weapons were intercepted at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in 2023, raising serious concerns about aviation security protocols at Ghana’s premier airport.
Data from the 2024 Auditor-General’s report on Public Boards, Corporations and Other Statutory Institutions indicates that a total of 2,077 rounds of ammunition and 20 weapons were discovered at two key passenger screening points at KIA during the period under review.
A breakdown of the seizures revealed that 198 rounds of ammunition and four weapons were intercepted at the international passenger screening area, while Terminal 2’s screening point recorded 1,879 rounds and 16 weapons.
Despite the alarming volume of seizures, the passengers involved were allowed to proceed with their travels — a development the Auditor-General attributes to the absence of a national policy regulating the carriage of weapons by air travellers.
Growing Security Threat
Describing the situation as a “potential security risk,” the report highlighted the need for urgent policy direction to prevent a possible breach of aviation safety. It warned that the lack of a clear regulatory framework increases the likelihood of unauthorised weapons being smuggled onto aircraft, thereby endangering the lives of passengers, crew, and airport staff.
Security analysts have also expressed worry over the trend, noting that even declared weapons, if not properly regulated, pose risks to in-flight security and airport operations.
Auditor-General’s Recommendations
To address the policy gap, the Auditor-General has called on the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to develop and implement a comprehensive framework that sets out stringent guidelines for screening and managing passengers carrying weapons.
GACL Points to Regulatory Delays
Responding to the audit findings, GACL explained that it had raised concerns about the increasing transport of weapons through KIA as far back as 2022. The issue was tabled before the National Civil Aviation Security Committee (NCASC), which includes the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as the industry regulator.
During that meeting, the absence of enforceable regulations and sanctions was cited as a key factor contributing to the rising trend.
Following the meeting, NCASC directed GCAA to introduce appropriate legislation, including punitive measures, to curb the movement of undeclared weapons. However, GACL noted that more than a year after the directive, no formal policy has been enacted.
In August 2023, GACL again wrote to the GCAA to fast-track the process for a national Weapon Declaration Policy. By November 2023, the issue was escalated to the Minister for National Security after no progress was made.
Minutes from an NCASC meeting in October 2023, cited in the report, show GCAA had committed to introducing a policy, but as of December 2024, GACL had not received any official documentation.
Stopgap Measures in Place
In the interim, GACL says it has enhanced internal security protocols by retraining Aviation Security (AVSEC) screeners and resourcing them to improve weapon and ammunition detection at airport checkpoints.
While these measures have contributed to the high detection rate in 2023, GACL maintains that without a comprehensive and enforceable national policy, the problem cannot be fully addressed.
A Call for Urgent National Action
The Auditor-General’s report concluded with a call for swift implementation of a national regulatory framework that clearly defines the conditions under which weapons may be carried through airports, outlines declaration procedures, and imposes strict sanctions for violations.
Until such measures are enacted, KIA — Ghana’s busiest international gateway and a critical hub for business, diplomatic, and commercial travel — remains vulnerable to the persistent threat of unregulated arms movement.
