The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over alleged corruption surrounding the government\u2019s decision to contract a private entity for the operation of the newly commissioned E-gate system at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).<\/p>\n The $147 million project, intended to streamline passenger arrivals and reduce processing times, has been criticized for lacking transparency and being fraught with irregularities.<\/p>\n Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza denounced the agreement as a clear case of \u201ccreate, loot, and share.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would an entire airport that cost $250 million to construct be overshadowed by an E-gate service contract worth nearly $147 million?\u201d Mr. Agbodza questioned.<\/p>\n According to the Minority Chief Whip, \u201cthis is the peak of \u2018create, loot, and share.\u2019 People are at the Bank of Ghana attempting to open accounts for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to begin collecting this money. The Value for Money (VFM) audit has not even been completed, yet the Immigration Service and the Ministry of Finance are rushing to sign an agreement. This is an illegality.\u201d<\/p>\n Issuing a warning, Mr. Agbodza called on civil servants involved in facilitating the agreement to halt the process.<\/p>\n \u201cDo not proceed. Any civil servant who partakes in this hasty decision to sign an agreement with this entity should take note. I will not name the entity, but it is known for exploiting public funds from the DVLA, the passport office, the National Identification Authority, and others. This time, it won\u2019t succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n He also emphasized that by law, the Ghana Immigration Service is not authorized to independently operate the E-gate system, which is intended to be an integrated service at the airport.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance, and the Ghana Immigration Service should all be aware that the laws passed by this house never intended for this service to be solely managed by GIS. It is an integrated service meant to enhance airport operations,\u201d Mr. Agbodza asserted.<\/p>\n He further criticized the exorbitant cost of the E-gate system.<\/p>\n \u201cThe E-gate service cannot cost $147 million when the entire airport cost \u00a3250 million to construct,\u201d the Minority Chief Whip added.<\/p>\n Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:<\/b><\/p>\n![\"Minority](\"https:\/\/cdn.ghanaweb.com\/imagelib\/pics\/465\/46541425.295.jpg\" "\\"Minority")
Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n