The United States Embassy has donated state-of-the-art security screening equipment for use at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
The security equipment includes one body scanner, nine explosive and narcotics trace detectors at the passenger checkpoint for outbound flights inside KIA terminal 3.
Unlike the other scanners already available to the KIA, the equipment detects both metallic and non-metallic substances and has the capacity to screen about 240 passengers per hour.
Present at the donation ceremony on Tuesday, 23rd March 2021, was the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.
He said this intervention is tied to making Ghana the aviation hub in the West African sub-region.
“This will further boost tourism activities in the country and create needed jobs for the teaming youth. The vision of making Ghana an aviation hub is contingent on the establishment of a home-based carrier. In this regard, engagements with strategic partners are at advanced stages to pave the way for its launch. This is to ensure that, Ghana’s Aviation Industry grows to become the pivot of regional and intercontinental flight within the West Africa sub-zone”, he said.
In addition to the screening equipment, the U.S government has committed to deliver best practices in airport security management and related operator training for the donated equipment.
Also speaking at the donation ceremony at the K.I.A on Tuesday, U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Stephanie Sullivan said this donation remains timely as the country’s Aviation sector gears up to begin direct flights from Ghana to the U.S.
“In addition to the Delta flight, I’m excited that United Airlines will soon commence direct flights between Ghana and the United States, helping to expand our bilateral connections. As Ghana’s Aviation sector has grown, so too has the importance of Aviation security screening and information sharing,” she said.
The equipment grant was implemented by the U.S Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security Office of Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA), in coordination with the U.S Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration. The ATA program provides support for an Aviation Security Enhancement Program (ASEP) in Ghana in close coordination with the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) and U.S Embassy Accra.
