'We don't owe GACL; all arrears fully paid' – McDan Aviation disputes Terminal 1 eviction

McDan Aviation has strongly rejected claims that it owes outstanding payments to Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), insisting that it has fully settled all its financial obligations while accusing the airport authority of unlawfully attempting to evict it from Terminal 1 of Kotoka International Airport.

In a statement issued in Accra on March 12, 2026, the private aviation company said it was compelled to respond to what it described as attempts by GACL to collapse its operations at the terminal despite the company having cleared all arrears.

McDan Aviation, operator of Ghana’s first indigenous Fixed Base Operation (FBO) terminal for private aviation, said it invested millions of dollars in developing the facility after entering into a landmark licence agreement with GACL in August 2022.

According to the company, the facility was designed to position Ghana as a premium hub for private and business aviation, capable of attracting high-net-worth travellers, tourism activity, and international investment.

Payment delay fully resolved

The company acknowledged that it experienced a brief delay in rental payments due to operational challenges linked to the global business environment.

However, management stressed that the situation was temporary and has since been resolved, with all outstanding obligations fully paid.

“McDan Aviation does not owe GACL. All outstanding indebtedness has been fully paid,” the company stated.

The firm said portraying the earlier delay as a major contractual breach is misleading and does not reflect the long-standing partnership it has maintained with the airport authority.

Alleged breach of agreement

At the centre of the dispute is what McDan Aviation describes as a breach of the licence agreement governing its operations at Terminal 1.

The company explained that under the terms of the contract, GACL is required to give a 90-day eviction notice before any attempt is made to terminate the licence or remove the company from the facility.

According to management, the clause was included specifically to safeguard the substantial investment made in redeveloping the terminal into a world-class private aviation facility.

However, the company claims the airport authority ignored this contractual requirement.

Claims of defying court process

McDan Aviation further alleges that GACL proceeded with enforcement actions even after being served with a court process relating to the dispute.

According to the company, GACL was formally served with a motion for an interlocutory injunction on March 10, 2026.

Yet, the firm claims that at about 1:00 a.m. on March 11, officials from the airport authority entered the terminal premises and allegedly removed equipment and other property belonging to the company.

Management described the action as a troubling disregard for both contractual obligations and the judicial process.

Legal battle looms

McDan Aviation said it will pursue all available legal remedies to challenge what it calls the unlawful termination of its licence and the alleged breach of its contractual rights.

The company also indicated it may seek redress for what it believes could amount to contempt of court.

As a wholly Ghanaian enterprise under the McDan Group, the company stressed that its investment forms part of a broader effort to deepen private sector participation in Ghana’s aviation industry and strengthen the country’s position as a regional aviation hub.

Management is therefore urging stakeholders to ensure that due process and the rule of law prevail.

“We remain committed to collaboration, national development, and the advancement of Ghana’s aviation sector,” the statement added.

The dispute between McDan Aviation and GACL now appears set for a legal showdown that could test contractual obligations, investor protection, and the relationship between state institutions and private investment in Ghana’s aviation sector.