Ghana Airport infrastructure levy begins today

Airline tickets for domestic and international travel became more expensive today as carriers began applying the government’s new Airport Infrastructure Development Levy.

Under the new charges:

Domestic passengers: an extra GH¢100 per flight.
Regional travel: $30 more for one-way tickets, $70 for return.
International travel: $50 extra for one-way, $100 for return.

Reasons

The government says the levy will fund critical aviation infrastructure, including a new concourse linking Kotoka International Airport’s Terminals 2 and 3, a 2,000-space car park at Terminal 3, and upgrades to regional airports.

Aviation expert Sean Mendis supports the move, arguing that without higher domestic charges, Kotoka International Airport risks “collapse under the financial burden of subsidizing the entire system.”

Concerns

However, industry stakeholders warn the levy—on top of existing taxes—could make Ghana’s airports among the costliest in the region and hurt competitiveness. Some also question whether the policy aligns with an ECOWAS directive calling for a 25% reduction in air transport taxes to boost regional connectivity.

The fare hike comes as airlines already face rising fuel costs due to Middle East tensions. According to the Board of Airlines Representatives in Ghana, full implementation of the levy would push Ghana from 9th to 3rd place in Africa for highest airport charges, behind only Gabon and Sierra Leone. By comparison, the global average for return airport charges is $30–$34, while Africa’s average is around $68.

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