The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has disclosed that Kotoka International Airport will soon be equipped with electronic gates (e-gates).
Dr. Bawumia, who is also the Vice President, stated that the e-gates will be operational by December 2024.
He mentioned that these e-gates will be installed in the arrival section of the airport, eliminating the need for Ghanaians to undergo immigration checks upon arrival.
“In fact, before the end of this year, if you arrive in Ghana at Kotoka Airport, you won’t need to go to an immigration officer.
We are installing the e-gates; you put in your Ghana card, it will open for you, and you pass and enter. The e-gates will be operational in Ghana before the end of this year,” he stated.
Additionally, Dr. Bawumia expressed his desire to engage in an “open and frank discussion” with religious and faith-based organisations about school management, with a particular focus on discipline.
Dr. Bawumia made this announcement during a meeting with the clergy in Cape Coast, marking the start of his regional tour on Monday.
Speaking in the Volta Region as part of his campaign tour, Dr. Bawumia called for the reintroduction of road tolls.
He highlighted that the suspension of road tolls in 2021, as part of the government’s efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, had significantly reduced the funds available for road maintenance and development.
He noted that this has led to a marked decline in the condition of roads across the country, affecting both economic activities and the daily lives of Ghanaians.
The Vice President suggested that modernising the toll collection system could address past inefficiencies and public concerns.
“Let us go back to a system of broad-based road tolls. The tolling system has to come back, and I think it will come back. It is a fundamental mistake of the Government to place all road projects on the budget. The government doesn’t have enough money, and the private sector has to be brought in.”
The Vice President outlined his vision for Ghana if elected President, pledging to expand agriculture, ensure power sufficiency, and reform the nation’s tax system.