On Sunday, 10th June, 2012 at about 6:00 pm, he went to Kotoka to check in. After the lady at the passport clearing point had finished checking his passport, she begged him for money to buy a malt drink. He ignored her and walked on to the next check point.
To his surprise, he encountered same incident at the final check point. Three officials at the airport, a gentleman and two ladies bluntly and shamelessly asked him for money after he had been cleared to board the plane.
Well, my friend is the type that believes that everything must be done the right way, so he didn’t give them a dime.
Now, the Airport is the fore front of the nation and it tells visitors the kind of people we are as a nation. It gives an impression about the nation.
If these workers at the airport were able to shamelessly beg for money from their fellow countryman, then it's no doubt that they are capable of doing same to foreigners.
We complain about how the international press portray us when reporting issues on this continent. But the truth is, they report what they see and experiences when they come here. Assuming my friend was a foreign reporter, you can imagine the headline this story will have. What an embarrassment it will be for our dear motherland.
In the era where everything is being done to combat unscrupulous people and items from getting into the country, this issue is a very serious one and must not be taken lightly. Because if we have such people at our check points, they would take anything and allow terrorists entry to the country and put all of us in danger.
The peace we enjoy in this nation partly depends on these officials at our airports and check points.
This is a wakeup call for the management of the Ghana Airport Company Limited to be vigilant and put serious measures in place to punish any staff that is caught in such unprofessional act to serve as a deterrent unto other members of staff.
To you my dear reader please DO NOT give to any staff who begs you for money at the airport or check points. It is getting out of hand and we must do something about it. It starts with you. Let's help our nation develop.
Interesting read.
ReplyDeleteI had the same experience at Kotoka, traveling this August and I was not sure if me being a foreigner, the airport staff were targeting me..they put you in a really uncomfortable position by begging for money.The lady was scanning my carry-on luggage and didn't bother that there was a long line after me!! I wish more Ghanians will step in and speak up when they see others are in such situations. The casual attitude of the immigration officer asking me to marry him shocked me, I know Ghanian men often do that , but a customs and immigration officer!! God help Ghana!It creates such a bad first impression for the country with all the uniform wearing beggars, so called 'helpers' who always want something from you....Please do not let the impression of the friendly and welcoming nation be threatened by few selfish officials at the airport...
ReplyDelete