Investor Protection Under Scrutiny in McDan Aviation Standoff With Ghana Airports Company Limited
The Coalition of GaDangme Pressure Groups has called on national authorities to ensure fairness and transparency in the ongoing dispute between McDan Aviation and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), warning that the issue could have wider implications for investor confidence in Ghana.
At a press conference, addressed by convener to the coalition, Nii Adu Ardey, the coalition said the disagreement goes beyond a contractual matter and raises broader concerns about the protection of indigenous businesses and the country’s commitment to safeguarding private investment.
According to the group, following the relocation of airport operations to Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport, the former terminal facility was left unused and deteriorating. It said McDan Aviation subsequently invested millions of dollars to redevelop the abandoned structure into what it described as Ghana’s first private Fixed Base Operator (FBO) terminal aimed at supporting business aviation and positioning the country as a regional hub for executive travel.
The coalition noted that information available to the public indicates that McDan Aviation fulfilled its rental obligations under its licence agreement with GACL for several years. Although there was reportedly a delay in the company’s annual rent payment in 2025, the group said the arrears had since been settled.
Despite this, the coalition expressed concern over the decision by GACL to terminate the licence agreement and subsequent developments surrounding the facility. It described as “particularly disturbing” reports that equipment belonging to the company was removed from the premises shortly after a court injunction had reportedly been served on the airport authority.
While acknowledging that the courts would determine the legal merits of the dispute, the coalition stressed that the broader national issue involves ensuring that Ghana remains a safe and predictable environment for investment.
“If Ghanaian investors begin to feel unsafe or vulnerable in their own country, the consequences for national development could be significant,” the group stated.
The coalition also highlighted the contributions of the McDan Group to Ghana’s aviation sector, noting that the development of a private jet terminal represented a major financial and strategic undertaking that helped attract international business aviation traffic to the country.
It argued that local entrepreneurs play a vital role in Ghana’s economic growth through job creation, economic activity and increased global competitiveness, and therefore require assurances that their investments will be protected under the rule of law.
The group further warned that perceptions that successful local businesses sometimes face institutional resistance could discourage other Ghanaian entrepreneurs from investing in key sectors of the economy.
The coalition called on government leadership to reassure investors that their contributions to national development will be protected and urged all stakeholders to handle the matter with calm, fairness and due process.
“Today it may be McDan Aviation. Tomorrow it could be another Ghanaian entrepreneur who has dared to invest heavily in the future of this country,” the statement said.
The coalition concluded by urging authorities to ensure that justice is done while protecting the confidence of Ghanaian investors willing to support the country’s development.
