NACOC clarifies new baggage screening at Kotoka International Airport

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has clarified that new security measures at Kotoka International Airport in Ghana focus on baggage screening rather than physical searches of passengers. Alexander Twum-Barima, NACOC’s Deputy Director-General for Enforcement, Control and Elimination, stated that the checks utilize electronic scanning machines and trained sniffer dogs to detect contraband.

Passengers may be required to place their luggage on electronic scanners or allow canine units to inspect their bags before entering the departure hall. During peak travel hours, typically between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., the commission can operate across three scanning lanes to manage passenger surges.

Twum-Barima emphasized that these baggage checks are distinct from passenger profiling, which remains a separate security process. Addressing concerns regarding potential delays, he noted that security must take precedence over speed, stating, “It is better for someone to delay than to allow something negative to happen.”