Rebuttal of false claims on broken-down scanners at Kotoka International Airport and other entry points

Ghana Link Network Services Ltd, operators of the Integrated Customs Management Systems the ICUMS says they have followed with great concern the recent public commentary and media reports, which suggest that scanners at Kotoka International Airport Cargo Village are broken down, and that Ghana is currently relying solely on sniffer dogs to intercept narcotics and contraband.

According to a statement signed by its Head of Public Relations, Norvan Acquah-Hayford, the service provider  categorically refute this claim as entirely false, misleading, and damaging to the integrity of Ghana’s border security systems and the companies entrusted with safeguarding these critical national assets.

All scanners are fully functional

There are currently up to five (5) fully functional and operational scanners deployed at Kotoka International Airport Cargo Village belonging to Ghana Link Network Services Ltd.

They are as follows:

Export Scanners – Total: 4

            Smiths Heimann 180180 2is PRO – Swissport, Smiths Heimann 180180 2is – AGCPC (Air Ghana Cargo Processing Centre), Smiths Heimann 180180 2is PRO – Aviance and  Smiths Heimann 180180 2is – Aviance.

All four export scanners are manufactured by Smiths Heimann, France, a globally recognised leader in airport security technology, and are operating at optimal efficiency.

Import Scanner – Total: 1

            Rapiscan Eagle A25 – Located at KIA Cargo Section (Import)

Manufactured by Rapiscan Systems, which is a combination of Rapiscan and AS&E all from the United States which we have only three in Africa. This high-performance scanner continues to support the detection of inbound contraband, including narcotics, ammunition, and other prohibited items.

Facts on the Ground

            All our scanners at Kotoka International Airport Cargo Village are fully functional and operational.

            The standard procedure for cargo handling is that all goods arriving by air cargo are moved from the tarmac directly to the scanning machines, where they undergo mandatory scanning before being released to Customs.

All goods to be exported out of the country, also arriving at the cargo village, undergo mandatory customs examination and documentation before they undergo scanning after which goods are released to the high security biometric warehouse, and later transferred to be emplaned.

Occasionally, and at the discretion of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), sniffer dogs are deployed as an additional layer of scrutiny, sometimes even before goods are scanned, based on specific intelligence leads.

In the recent case being discussed, it is our understanding that NACOC had credible intel and, therefore, deployed dogs to where suspicious items were flagged even before the goods could be brought for scanning.

Grave Concerns

We are deeply alarmed by the inaccurate and unverified information. The assertion that “all scanners are broken down” is not only incorrect but also risks:

•          Undermining public trust in our port and border security systems.

•          Attracting unwarranted scrutiny from international aviation, trade, and security stakeholders.

•          Damaging the reputation of companies that undertake Scan and have consistently invested in, supported, and enhanced the integrity of these systems at the Airport.

Call for Immediate Rectification

We strongly urge the following:

•          The misinformation communicated is corrected.

•          We ask that immediate steps be taken to amend the wrong information to reflect the true state of affairs.

•          And ask media outlets that published to retract and clarify misleading headlines and articles now circulating both locally and internationally.

Further, the statement noted that the public and relevant institutions that the scanning infrastructure at the KIA cargo village and all other entry/exit points forms the first line of defence against contraband, including narcotics, arms, and prohibited goods. These systems are not only operational but closely monitored and maintained to ensure compliance with international safety and trade facilitation standards.

Also, were these scanners to be dysfunctional as claimed, the repercussions in terms of delays, demurrage costs, and compromised perishable cargo would have triggered widespread alarm from freight forwarders, customs agents, and shipping lines alike.

Ghana Link Network Services Ltd remains committed to partnering with the State and its security institutions to enhance Ghana’s border integrity. But this commitment must be reciprocated with truth, accountability, and collaboration, not public misrepresentation.