GACL to pay first-ever dividend to government since 2007

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) announced on Wednesday that it will pay its first-ever dividend to the Government of Ghana, marking a significant milestone for the company since its establishment in 2007. Managing Director Yvonne Afriyie Opare disclosed the decision at the company's 11th Annual General Meeting. The proposed dividend amounts to 30 million Ghana cedis and represents a significant financial commitment from GACL, which owns 100% of the company.

The payment comes amid substantial financial obligations associated with the company's responsibility for developing, maintaining, and managing airport infrastructure across Ghana. Despite managing director Opare stating that domestic business operations and regional airports are yet to become profitable, the company recorded growth in passenger and cargo traffic in 2025.

Passenger traffic increased by 6% to 3.6 million, aircraft movements rose by 2.2% to 47,270, and cargo volumes expanded by 4.8% to 44,826 tonnes. The growth in traffic supported an improvement in GACL's financial performance, with profit rising to 354.6 million Ghana cedis in 2025 from approximately 336 million in the previous year.

However, liquidity constraints and financing costs linked to infrastructure investments, particularly a loan facility used for Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport, continue to challenge the company. In an effort to ease debt repayment obligations, GACL secured approval for a restructuring and refinance of its syndicated loan, which provides an eight-year extension of the repayment period and a one-year moratorium on principal repayments.