BY Grace Zigah
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has moved to take over the private jet terminal at Accra International Airport, after terminating its Fixed Base Operation (FBO) agreement with McDan Aviation Handling Services Limited over what the airport authority describes as persistent default in the payment of licence fees, rent and royalties.
The development took a dramatic turn when security personnel from GACL reportedly entered the Terminal 1 private jet facility and removed properties belonging to McDan Aviation.
The items were later relocated to an area behind the offices of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines within the airport enclave, effectively ending the company’s operational control of the facility.
The action has intensified discussions within aviation and political circles over the future management of the private jet terminal.
Sources familiar with internal deliberations claim government officials have been exploring the possibility of assigning the terminal to a different investor, with some unconfirmed reports suggesting interest linked to business interests associated with John Dramani Mahama.
Authorities, however, have not officially confirmed any new concession arrangement.
Origins Of the Agreement
McDan Aviation secured the licence to operate the Fixed Base Operation at Terminal 1 following an agreement signed with GACL in August 2022. The contract granted the company authority to provide specialised aviation services for private jet operators and high-net-worth travellers.
The facility, operated under the McDan Group of Companies and overseen by its Executive Chairman Daniel McKorley, was designed to function as a dedicated private aviation hub.
The terminal offered a range of premium services including VIP passenger lounges, crew rest facilities, flight planning offices, conference rooms and in-flight catering services. It also enabled passengers using private jets to complete customs and immigration formalities through a streamlined and more exclusive process separate from the main airport terminals.
Financial Dispute Emerges
Despite the ambitious vision behind the project, the relationship between McDan Aviation and GACL began to deteriorate shortly after the agreement came into effect.
According to the airport authority, the company started defaulting on its financial obligations not long after commencing operations in 2022. GACL indicated that several attempts were made to recover the outstanding payments over time.
By late 2024, the airport operator restricted access to Terminal 1 due to accumulated arrears. McDan Aviation subsequently cleared debts covering the period between 2022 and 2024, which allowed the facility to resume operations temporarily.
However, GACL says the situation soon deteriorated again, as the company allegedly failed to make payments for rent and royalties throughout 2025, while the licence fee required under the original agreement remained outstanding since 2022.
Repeated Notices And Failed Payment Plan
Under the terms of the agreement, GACL was required to provide a 90-day notice period before terminating the contract. The airport authority said it therefore issued a formal notice to McDan Aviation on January 10, 2025, demanding settlement of the outstanding debt.
Three additional reminders were reportedly issued during the course of 2025 urging the company to honour its financial obligations.
During this period, McDan Aviation proposed a payment plan and issued three post-dated cheques as part of efforts to clear the debt.
However, before the cheques could be presented for payment, the company asked GACL not to deposit them, citing financial difficulties.
A further notice was issued in November 2025, again reminding the company that it remained in default of the agreement.
Contract Terminated And Terminal Locked
After the expiration of the required notice period and several unsuccessful attempts to secure payment, GACL formally terminated the FBO agreement on January 16, 2026.
Following the termination, the airport authority wrote to McDan Aviation clarifying that any subsequent payments would only be treated as settlement of outstanding debts and would not result in reinstatement of the agreement.
On February 9, 2026, GACL secured and locked the Terminal 1 facility and instructed the company to remove its belongings within seven days in accordance with the contract’s termination provisions.
When the company reportedly failed to comply with the directive despite several reminders, GACL security personnel moved in to remove the remaining equipment and other property from the premises.
Partial Payment and Continuing Debt Recovery
In a later development, McDan Aviation made a payment to GACL on February 27, 2026, in the Ghana cedi equivalent of US$265,000.
According to the airport authority, the payment represents roughly half of the total outstanding debt, and efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining balance owed by the company.
Separate Court Dispute
The airport operator also disclosed that the McDan Group is currently engaged in a separate legal dispute with GACL over a 16-acre parcel of land within the airport enclave.
GACL claims the company owes millions of dollars relating to obligations on the land, despite developing commercial properties on the site and renting them out.
GACL Warns Other Businesses
The airport authority has emphasised that the Fixed Base Operation agreement with McDan Aviation has been fully and finally terminated, insisting there is no legal basis for the company to continue operating the private jet facility.
GACL further cautioned organisations doing business with it to strictly honour their contractual financial obligations, warning that entities that default on payments will face full debt recovery processes in accordance with the terms of their agreements.
The takeover of the Terminal 1 private jet facility marks a major development in the aviation sector and leaves uncertainty over who will ultimately assume control of the country’s dedicated private jet terminal.
