By : Abdul Shakur Omae
Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, Member of Parliament for Gusheigu and former Deputy Transport Minister, has fiercely criticized the government over the introduction of the Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC), describing it as a betrayal of campaign promises.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, he accused the administration of misleading Ghanaians ahead of the 2024 elections with pledges to reduce taxes, only to impose what he calls an excessive new burden on air travelers.
According to the MP, the increase in airport related charges from GHS5 to GHS105 representing over 1,800 percent is unjustifiable and insensitive.
He explained that the newly introduced GHS100 Airport Infrastructure Development Charge, added to the existing GHS5 Airport Passenger Service Charge (APSC), has significantly driven up domestic airfare.
Citing the Tamale route, he claimed that a one way ticket which cost less than GHS2,000 in January 2025 is now selling at GHS3,214 as of April 1, 2026, worsening the plight of ordinary citizens amid rising global aviation fuel prices.
Hon. Tampuli further argued that while some governments across Africa are easing tax burdens to provide economic relief, Ghana’s approach appears to be the opposite.
He called on the government to immediately suspend the new charge and initiate consultations with key stakeholders in the aviation sector.
Warning of “deeply worrying times ahead,” he insisted that the policy risks pushing more Ghanaians into economic hardship if urgent corrective steps are not taken.
