An Assembly Member for the Wuxor, Have and Sremanu Electoral Area, Hon. Japhet Festus Gbede, has strongly criticised the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) over its decision to summarily dismiss two car park attendants who were reportedly caught begging passengers for money at the airport.
The dismissal of the workers has generated widespread public debate, with many questioning whether the punishment was proportionate to the offence.
Hon. Gbede, who is also a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication Team and is popularly known as KIVO GARI, described the action by GACL as excessive and lacking compassion, arguing that the company failed to demonstrate responsible leadership.
In a social media post that has since attracted significant public attention, he maintained that begging, though inappropriate in a professional setting, should not be equated with criminal offences such as robbery, extortion or violence.
“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,” he stated.
According to him, the incident should have been handled through corrective measures rather than the immediate termination of the workers’ employment.
Hon. Gbede further questioned what he described as the inconsistent application of justice in Ghana, noting that while low-income workers are swiftly dismissed for relatively minor misconduct, public officials accused of major financial impropriety often remain in office or spend years undergoing investigations without facing immediate consequences.
He argued that the contrasting treatment reflects a worrying imbalance in accountability and fairness within public institutions.
The Assembly Member also urged the management of GACL to look beyond the immediate misconduct and address the underlying factors that may have contributed to the workers’ actions.
He cited poor remuneration, economic hardship and challenging working conditions as issues that could push vulnerable employees into acts of desperation.
“Leadership is not about making headlines by dismissing vulnerable workers. Leadership is about addressing the root causes of misconduct while preserving human dignity,” he stressed.
Hon. Gbede called on the Managing Director of GACL to review the decision and consider reinstating the affected workers. He suggested that counselling, retraining or other proportionate disciplinary measures would have been more appropriate than permanently depriving them of their livelihoods.
According to him, improving staff welfare and ensuring decent working conditions remain the most effective means of promoting professionalism and preventing similar incidents in the future.
The controversy follows GACL’s decision to dismiss the two attendants after they were allegedly found soliciting money from passengers at one of the country’s airports. The company has defended its decision, insisting that the conduct violated its code of ethics and threatened the institution’s reputation for professionalism.
However, the dismissals have sparked mixed reactions among the public. While some have defended the company’s zero-tolerance approach to misconduct, others believe the punishment was overly harsh and have called for a more humane and balanced response that considers both discipline and the welfare of employees.
The debate continues to raise broader questions about workplace discipline, employee welfare and how state institutions should balance accountability with compassion when dealing with misconduct by lower-ranking staff.
