Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama has denied allegations that he is involved in plans to take control of the private jet terminal operated by McDan Aviation at Terminal 1 of Kotoka International Airport (KIA), which has recently been renamed Accra International Airport (AIA).
In an interview with The Herald’s Rafiq Mahama, head of communications for Mr Mahama, described the claims as false, misleading and without any factual basis, insisting that he has not engaged in any discussions or negotiations regarding the facility.
He told The Herald that ranting and managing an airport terminal was not part of the Engineers and Planners (E&P) portfolio. The company is owned by Ibrahim Mahama, a contractor specialising in mining, civil earthworks, and infrastructure development, working on major projects for clients such as Gold Fields.
Mr Mahama also owns Dzata Cement, which produces the Dzata Cement brand in Ghana. The same man is also involved with MBG Ltd and Holman Brothers Ghana Ltd, which import heavy equipment and vehicles.
Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has explained that it terminated its Fixed Base Operation (FBO) agreement with McDan Aviation Handling Services Limited following prolonged disputes over unpaid licence fees, rent, and royalties at KIA. The matter is currently in court at the instance of McDan Aviation.
A statement issued yesterday, Thursday, 12 March 2026, said that the agreement, signed in August 2022, granted McDan Aviation the licence to provide Fixed Base Operation services at designated areas within Terminal 1 of the airport. Under the terms of the arrangement, the company was required to pay licence fees, royalties, and rent to GACL. However, according to GACL, McDan Aviation began defaulting on its payment obligations shortly after the agreement took effect in 2022.
The airport operator stated that after several unsuccessful attempts to recover the outstanding debt, access to Terminal 1 was restricted in late 2024. McDan Aviation subsequently settled the arrears for the period from 2022 to 2024, resulting in the terminal’s reopening for operations.
Despite clearing those arrears, GACL said the company again accumulated substantial debt due to ongoing non-payment. The airport authority stated that no payments were received for rent and royalties throughout 2025, and that the operating licence fee due since 2022 remained unpaid.
E& P earlier issued a statement following a publication alleging that the government was planning to reassign the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) facility managed by McDan Aviation, a subsidiary of the McDan Group of Companies, to Mr Mahama.
However, the statement clarified that Mr Mahama has not held any talks with the Government of Ghana, the Ghana Airports Company Limited, or any other entity about taking over the private jet terminal.
“At no point has Mr Mahama expressed interest in acquiring, operating or taking over the private jet terminal in question. The suggestion that he is behind any such move is entirely inaccurate and speculative,” the statement said.
The communications team further stressed that attempts to link the businessman to any alleged effort to displace the facility’s current operator are unfounded.
While acknowledging that Mr Mahama has legitimate business interests in several sectors, including aviation-related activities, the statement said the claims about the terminal takeover are not supported by any facts.
The statement also urged media organisations and commentators to exercise greater diligence in verifying claims before publication.
“We urge media organisations and commentators to exercise professional diligence and responsibility in verifying claims before publishing stories that have the potential to damage reputations and misinform the public,” it added.
Mr Mahama, who is the founder of the Engineers & Planners, reaffirmed his commitment to conducting his business operations lawfully and transparently, calling on the original story’s publishers and other media outlets to correct the record and refrain from circulating what he described as unverified claims about his business activities.
In line with the agreement, which requires a 90-day notice period before termination, GACL said it formally notified McDan Aviation on January 10, 2025, to settle the outstanding debt. The company said three additional reminders were issued throughout 2025, urging the firm to meet its financial obligations.
During the period, McDan Aviation reportedly proposed a payment plan and issued three post-dated cheques. However, before the cheques were due for presentation, the company asked GACL not to deposit them, citing financial constraints.
GACL said it issued another notice in November 2025, reminding the company of its continuing default.
Following the lapse of the required notice period and several reminders, the airport operator formally terminated the FBO agreement with McDan Aviation on January 16, 2026.
After the termination, GACL wrote to the company clarifying that any payments made afterwards would be treated strictly as settlement of outstanding debts and would not amount to reinstatement of the agreement.
On February 9, 2026, GACL secured and locked up Terminal 1 and subsequently directed McDan Aviation to remove its belongings from the premises within seven days, in accordance with the termination clauses of the contract. The airport authority said several reminders were sent for the removal of the items, but no response was received.
Despite the termination notice, McDan Aviation later made a payment to GACL on February 27, 2026, in the Ghana cedi equivalent of US$265,000. According to GACL, the amount represents roughly half of the total outstanding debt owed by the company.
The airport operator said it will continue to pursue the recovery of the remaining debt from the McDan Group.
GACL also disclosed that the McDan Group is currently in court with the airport authority over a separate dispute involving 16 acres of land, for which it says the group owes millions of dollars in unpaid obligations despite developing commercial properties on the land and renting them out.
The company emphasised that the FBO agreement with McDan Aviation has been “duly and finally terminated,” adding that there is no legal basis for re-engagement with the firm regarding Fixed Base Operation services at Terminal 1.
GACL further urged organisations doing business with it to honour their financial obligations, warning that entities that fail to do so will face full debt recovery processes as stipulated in their contractual agreements.
However, in a dramatic development at Terminal 1 Airport, GACL security personnel, acting under orders from their CEO, have reportedly removed McDan Aviation’s property from the McDan Aviation Terminal 1.
Reports indicate that the items were relocated behind the KLM offices near the airport, raising questions about the company’s operational future.
The action comes amid ongoing reports that McDan Aviation may lose its private jet terminal to a different investor.
Sources indicate that internal government discussions are underway to potentially reassign the terminal, currently operated by McDan Group of Companies, to a different investor.
Mr Daniel McKorley, Executive Chairman of McDan Group, currently oversees the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Terminal 1 Airport, a purpose-built private-jet terminal offering VIP lounges, crew facilities, flight-planning offices, conference rooms, and in-flight catering.
The terminal provides passengers and crew with streamlined customs and immigration processing, offering a secure and efficient travel experience separate from the main airport facilities.
Industry observers note that this development could have significant implications for McDan Airlines’ VIP operations, which have long positioned the company as a leader in Ghanaian executive aviation services.
Efforts to obtain official comments from GACL proved futile.
Meanwhile, McDan Aviation Handling Services Limited has filed a lawsuit against GACL at the High Court of Justice in Accra following the termination of its operating licence at Kotoka International Airport.
According to court documents, McDan Aviation is challenging GACL’s decision to terminate a licence agreement that allowed the company to provide Fixed Base Operator (FBO) services at the airport. The agreement, which was originally signed on August 1, 2022, was reportedly terminated by GACL on January 16, 2026.
In the suit, McDan Aviation argues that the termination of the agreement was unlawful and claims the airport authority also forcibly shut down its operations at Terminal 1.
The company is asking the court for several remedies, including: A declaration that the termination of the licence agreement was unlawful, A declaration that the closure of its operations at Terminal 1 was illegal, and general damages for losses suffered as a result of the shutdown.
The writ of summons was issued by lawyers for McDan Aviation, indicating that the company intends to challenge the airport authority’s actions through the commercial division of the High Court in Accra.
Under Ghana’s civil procedure rules, GACL is required to enter an appearance in court within eight days of being served with the writ. Failure to do so could allow the court to proceed in its absence.
The case is expected to draw attention within Ghana’s aviation industry, as it concerns private-sector operations and management decisions at the country’s main international airport.
If the matter proceeds to trial, the court will determine whether the termination of the licence agreement and the shutdown of McDan Aviation’s operations were legally justified.
