Nii Adote Otintor II, Mankralo of the Ga State and Paramount Chief of the Sempe Traditional Area, has strongly condemned the actions of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) in forcibly taking over McDan Aviation Limited’s private terminal at Kotoka International Airport.
In a statement issued on March 12, 2026, the Chief described the events of March 11, 2026, as not only a breach of contract but also an “assault on the very spirit of Ghanaian entrepreneurship” and a blatant defiance of the nation’s judicial system.
According to the Chief, despite a court injunction served to GACL on March 10, officials allegedly entered McDan Aviation’s fixed-base operator (FBO) terminal at 1:00 a.m., seizing property and equipment under the cover of darkness. He referred to the action as “midnight justice” and a “stain on our democracy”.
Nii Adote Otintor II accused GACL of ignoring the mandatory 90-day notice period for eviction, a provision intended to protect the substantial investments made by the Ghanaian-owned firm. He stressed that McDan Aviation had settled all outstanding obligations despite a brief payment delay caused by global economic pressures.
“To collapse a business over a rectified administrative matter is nothing short of economic sabotage,” the Chief said, highlighting the risk such actions pose to homegrown entrepreneurship.
The Paramount Chief urged the President of Ghana and the Ministry of Transport to:
Call GACL to Order – Stop further lawless actions that undermine the courts and the spirit of local investment.
Reinstate McDan Aviation – Allow the company to resume operations at its FBO terminal immediately.
Respect Due Process – Ensure all disputes are resolved through proper legal and contractual channels rather than raids and intimidation.
The Chief warned that the optics of the takeover could discourage future generations from investing in Ghana. “When local investors feel unsafe in their own country, we kill the motivation for future generations to take plausible investment risks,” he said.
He further expressed concern over whispers of political interference, suggesting the takeover may benefit individuals close to corridors of power. “If we allow politics to swallow our businessmen, we swallow the backbone of our economy,” he added.
McDan Aviation, a wholly Ghanaian enterprise under the McDan Group, operates a world-class private jet terminal at Kotoka International Airport and has been instrumental in putting Ghana on the global aviation map.
Nii Adote Otintor II concluded his statement by reiterating the need to support homegrown initiatives that create employment, attract investment, and enhance Ghana’s global competitiveness, rather than stifling local entrepreneurs through intimidation.
