The Minority in Parliament is sounding the alarm bells over a $7 charge imposed by government on airline tickets.
The Minority describes the charge as illegal as it is only Parliament that can impose fees and charges.
Sources indicate that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) is impressing on airlines to add $7 per passenger on each international airline ticket sold and remit the same to government agency as a luggage fumigation charge.
AviationGhana sources revealed that the decision of the GHS was conveyed by the Ghana Airports Company Limited to airlines servicing Accra's Kotoka International Airport at a meeting held on Thursday, June 22, in Accra.
Speaking to JoyNews, Minority Chief Whip and Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee Governs Kwame Agbodza urged airlines to disregard the directive from government to charge that amount.
"The stakeholders have been unhappy about it, the airlines feel this will make their work even more difficult knowing that after COVID, many airlines and related businesses are still struggling to recover.
"You'd realize that airline tickets are still considerably high. To charge this amount for fumigation of bags is an absurdity. We are not going to accept this.
"No agency of government has the right to impose additional charges without the knowledge of Parliament and I encourage airlines to disregard this for now until we all come to the conclusion that this is relevant," he said.
Governs Kwame Agbodza also explained that Parliament had been completely sidelined in the imposition of the charge insisting the relevant committee in Parliament, the Roads and Transport Committee was not privy to the charge.
The Minority Chief Whip also claimed this an avenue by some government officials to steal from the ordinary Ghanaian even in these challenging economic times.
"I've never seen anything like fumigation of bag charge before, in any case, what is the meaning of fumigation of bags that you're going to charge passengers US$7?
"What kind of chemicals are you going to use? What kind of contamination are we talking about? This is a very unnecessary attempt to basically take close to $15 million from passengers.
"This is not the time, the airlines are struggling, people are squeezed, we should not be making life difficult for the airlines and the passengers", he stressed.
The Minority say they will in the coming days push for the full details to be brought to Parliament and do everything necessary to prevent the imposition of what they are calling an illegal charge.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana is uniquely positioned to leverage AI to lead innovation in Africa – Deloitte Transactions Partner
1 second -
3 pupils, taxi driver killed in crash near Winneba Junction
2 minutes -
Economy to grow by more than 4.8% in 2025 – IC Research
6 minutes -
US visa tips: 10 key insights revealed by the US Consul General on Joy FM’s SMS
16 minutes -
Scars of Hooliganism: ‘It’s the worst thing you can think of’ – Maxwell Konadu on violence
32 minutes -
NIA workers declare strike action over withheld allowances
36 minutes -
Rehoboth Properties responds to allegations of power theft at Kweiman Estate
49 minutes -
Your social media activity can affect your student visa application – U.S. Consul General
56 minutes -
GJA elections committee chairman reaffirms commitment to credible polls
2 hours -
Visa denial is not deliberate; adhere to the rules – U.S Consul General
2 hours -
Part of Accra Sports Stadium still closed as NSA lacks funds for repairs
2 hours -
Haruna Mohammed calls for amendment of political parties act to enable financial independence
2 hours -
Stakeholders advocate professional development for teachers in the standards-based curriculum
2 hours -
Sheffield United invited entire Shooting Stars team for trials because of me – Rashid Fuseini
2 hours -
Do not apply for visa through agents; they are liars – U.S. Consul General
2 hours