The Minister-Designate for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has revealed that the controversial E-Gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) was implemented without a formal contract, raising significant concerns about procurement processes and financial accountability.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, Agbodza disclosed that the E-Gate project, initially touted as part of Ghana’s airport modernization efforts, was originally intended to be implemented at no cost to the government.
The project was reportedly valued at $240 million, but this figure was refuted by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in December 2024, which described the alleged cost as inaccurate.
Agbodza, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, clarified that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had already been working on a similar system as part of broader modernization initiatives. The E-Gate, according to him, was designed to be a complimentary feature requiring no additional expenditure.
“If the government had listened to what I was saying, it wouldn’t have resulted in the embarrassment we saw during the commissioning attempt by the former Vice President,” Agbodza stated. “There isn’t even a contract for the E-Gate, not for the $1.7 million they mentioned or any other amount.”
He further explained that despite his earlier warnings, a memo was later prepared to justify the project after work had already begun.
Agbodza’s revelations highlight significant lapses in governance and financial oversight, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability in the management of national projects.