The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has set aside GH¢30 million for its first dividend payment to the government since its establishment in 2007, even as loss-making regional airports and loan repayments continue to put pressure on its finances.

The proposed payment follows an increase in the company’s profit to GH¢354.6 million in 2025, from approximately GH¢336 million in 2024.

GACL Managing Director, Yvonne Afriyie Opare, announced the move at the company’s 11th Annual General Meeting, where she presented its performance for the year ended December 31, 2025.

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“GACL has earmarked an amount of 30 million Ghana cedis to pay to a hundred per cent shareholder, the Government of Ghana, for the first time since the establishment of the company in 2007,” she said.

However, the increase in profit has not eliminated pressure on the company’s cash resources.

GACL continues to fund airport development and cover the operating costs of regional airports that are not generating enough revenue to sustain their operations.

These include facilities in Kumasi, Tamale, Sunyani and Ho, which form part of the company’s responsibility to develop and manage airports across the country.

“Domestic business operations and all other regional airports are not yet profitable,” Opare said.

The company also faces repayment obligations on the loan used to develop Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport.

To ease the burden, GACL secured approval to restructure and refinance its syndicated loan. The arrangement extends the repayment period by eight years and allows the company to suspend principal repayments for one year.

The changes are expected to free up cash to support airport operations and infrastructure investments.

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Meanwhile, passenger traffic increased by 6 per cent to 3.6 million in 2025, compared with 3.4 million in 2024. Aircraft movements also rose by 2.2 per cent to 47,270, while cargo volumes grew by 4.8 per cent to 44,826 tonnes.

The proposed dividend marks a milestone for the state-owned company, although the cost of supporting regional airports and servicing its debt continues to place demands on its finances.

DR/MA

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