GACL reclaims airport lands from McDan Group following court ruling

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has successfully repossessed prime airport lands from McDan Group of Companies following a decisive court ruling in its favour.

The judgement, delivered on May 6, 2025, by an Accra High Court, grants GACL full re-entry and possession of over 16 acres of land formerly occupied by subsidiaries of the McDan Group.

The lands in question, measuring approximately 10.63 acres and 5.66 acres, are located adjacent to and opposite the Action Chapel International, near the Kotoka International Airport. They were previously held by McDan Shipping Company and Airport Logistics Limited, both under the McDan Group umbrella, since 2012.

In February 2025, GACL filed a writ and a statement of claim against the two entities, citing longstanding breaches of land lease agreements and outstanding ground rents.

The company sought the recovery of $26,296 in accrued ground rent for the use of the lands.

Additionally, there was a perpetual injunction to restrain the defendants from any interference with the lands.

Following legal proceedings, GACL applied for summary judgment on the grounds that the defendants had no valid defense. The court ruled in GACL’s favour, awarding all reliefs sought and ordering the defendants to pay GH¢50,000 in legal costs.

In December 2024, McDan Aviation’s operations at Terminal 1 of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) were suspended due to debt obligations. Although those specific debts were later cleared, the land dispute remained unresolved until this legal intervention.

GACL’s management has lauded the court’s decision as a significant asset recovery win.

“The repossession of these lands not only safeguards millions of dollars’ worth of state assets but also reinforces our commitment to accountability and lawful management of public property,” a source within the company stated.

The successful litigation is being credited to the collaborative efforts of GACL’s Legal Department and the company’s Managing Director Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, who spearheaded the push for asset recovery.

With this development, GACL is expected to explore new plans for the reclaimed lands, potentially for aviation-related expansion or strategic partnerships, as part of broader efforts to optimise airport infrastructure and revenue generation.