The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has introduced new security screening equipment at Terminals 2 and 3 of Kotoka International Airport, allowing passengers to keep laptops, shoes and belts on during security checks.
In a public notice issued on July 11, 2026, GACL said passengers would no longer be required to remove laptops and other large electronic devices from their cabin baggage during screening. Shoes and belts may also remain on, except where security profiling requires additional checks.
The company said liquids, aerosols and gels may also remain in carry on baggage during screening, although the existing limit of 100 millilitres per container remains in force.
GACL said the new equipment includes an Automatic Tray Return System, which returns trays to passengers after screening to speed up the repacking process. It said the new system would be introduced in phases and would operate alongside the existing screening equipment during the transition period.
The rollout follows an announcement made by President John Dramani Mahama in May this year at the launch of Ghana’s electronic visa system. At the event, the President said new screening equipment would be installed at Kotoka International Airport to spare passengers the inconvenience of removing shoes and belts during security checks, with operations expected to begin in August 2026.
The installation is part of ongoing efforts to improve passenger processing and aviation security at the airport. In August 2025, GACL introduced an Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record system to enable security agencies to screen passenger information before arrival and departure.
The new screening equipment is expected to reduce the need for passengers to remove shoes, belts, laptops and liquids during security checks, a procedure that has often contributed to delays at airport screening points.
GACL appealed to passengers and other stakeholders to cooperate as the new system is introduced in the coming days.
