Accra: A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Team, Japhet Festus Gbede, has criticised the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) over its decision to dismiss two airport car park attendants for begging passengers, arguing that asking for money should not be equated with criminal conduct.
According to Ghana Web, Gbede, popularly known as KIVO GARI, shared his views in a Facebook post on August 5, 2026, emphasizing that begging does not constitute robbery, extortion, or violence. He questioned the severity of the punishment given to the workers, stating, "Begging is not robbery. Begging is not extortion. Begging is not violence. If someone asks me for money, I have every right to decline. If I choose not to give, does the person beat me? Does the person forcefully take my money? Absolutely not."
Gbede argued that while the workers' conduct may have been inappropriate, it did not justify the loss of their jobs. He urged GACL to consider a more humane and proportionate approach to discipline. He also contrasted the dismissals with what he described as the slow pace of accountability for public officials accused of large-scale financial misconduct. He noted that vulnerable workers often face harsher consequences than powerful individuals.
He suggested that the airport operator should focus on addressing the conditions that may have driven the attendants to beg, such as poor remuneration and difficult working conditions, rather than making examples of frontline staff. "Leadership is not about making headlines by dismissing vulnerable workers. Leadership is about addressing the root causes of misconduct while preserving human dignity," he added.
Gbede called on the Managing Director of GACL to review the decision and reinstate the dismissed attendants. He proposed counselling, retraining, or other proportionate disciplinary measures instead of outright termination.