Terminal 2 to Get Faster Security Screening in 2026
Ghana Rolls Out $800m Airport Modernisation Plan
Passengers using Terminal 2 at Accra International Airport will soon benefit from faster screening as part of the Accra Terminal 2 upgrades announced by Ghana Airports Company Limited. Managing Director Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare revealed that advanced 3D baggage scanners Ghana will be installed to improve security processing and enhance passenger convenience.
Speaking at the 5th Aviation Ghana Breakfast Meeting in Accra, she explained that the new scanners will allow travellers to keep liquids and other items inside their carry-on luggage during screening. In addition, GACL has formally requested the removal of the requirement for passengers to take off their shoes at checkpoints, describing the move as part of broader efforts to modernise airport procedures in line with global standards.
Mrs Opare noted that the reforms are long overdue. She stressed that the focus is to improve efficiency without compromising safety, while ensuring the passenger experience reflects current technology and international best practice.
The upgrades will be supported by the newly approved Airport Infrastructure Development Charge, which takes effect on April 1. The AIDC passenger levy was endorsed by Parliament under the 2026 national budget and is expected to anchor an $800 million airport modernisation Ghana programme over the next decade.
Under the framework, international passengers will pay $50 per trip. Travellers within the Economic Community of West African States will pay $15, while passengers on other African routes will pay an additional $30. The charge will apply over a defined ten-year period to finance infrastructure expansion and system upgrades across the country’s aviation network.
Mrs Opare emphasised that the Airport Infrastructure Development Charge is designed not merely as a revenue tool but as a direct investment mechanism. According to her, visible improvements in facilities and passenger comfort will determine public acceptance of the levy. She expressed confidence that once travellers see tangible results, concerns about the additional cost will ease.
The modernisation programme aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s broader economic reset agenda, which prioritises transport connectivity and logistics efficiency as drivers of trade, tourism and investment. Officials argue that strengthening aviation infrastructure will position Ghana as a competitive hub in West Africa.
Beyond passenger comfort, the funding model also addresses structural financing gaps in the aviation sector. Historically, profitable operations at Accra International Airport subsidised regional airports. The new approach seeks to create a more sustainable financing structure that supports expansion nationwide.
As implementation begins, the introduction of 3D baggage scanners Ghana represents the first visible step in the larger transformation plan. Authorities say further upgrades will follow as the AIDC revenue stream builds momentum over the coming years.
