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.

In a Facebook post shared on August 5, 2026, Gbede, popularly known as KIVO GARI, insisted that begging does not amount to robbery, extortion or violence, questioning the severity of the punishment meted out to the workers.

"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.

Gbede argued that while the workers' conduct may have been inappropriate, it did not warrant the loss of their livelihoods, urging GACL to adopt a more humane and proportionate approach to discipline.

GACL fires two workers over passenger extortion

He also contrasted the dismissals with what he described as the slow pace of accountability for public officials accused of large-scale financial misconduct, saying vulnerable workers often face harsher consequences than powerful individuals.

According to him, the airport operator should focus on addressing the conditions that may have driven the attendants to beg, including 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, proposing counselling, retraining or other proportionate disciplinary measures instead of outright termination.

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