Passengers travelling through Accra International Airport will soon experience a faster and less intrusive security screening process, following the deployment of new equipment by the Ghana Airports Company Limited. The company announced the upgrade in a public notice detailing changes that will affect Terminals 2 and 3.
According to the notice, the new state-of-the-art screening equipment aims to strengthen aviation security while making the passenger experience smoother. GACL described the deployment as part of ongoing efforts to modernise operations at the airport’s passenger checkpoints.
“The Ghana Airports Company Limited is pleased to announce the deployment of new, state-of-the-art security screening equipment at the passenger screening checkpoints in Terminals 2 and 3 of Accra International Airport.”
Ghana Airports Company Limited
Laptops Can Stay in Bags
One of the most notable changes under the new system concerns electronic devices. Passengers will no longer need to remove laptops or other large electronics from their cabin baggage during screening, a routine that has long added time and inconvenience to the process.
“Laptops and other large electronic devices can now remain in your cabin baggage during screening,” the notice explained. This shift reflects the capability of the new equipment to detect items without requiring passengers to unpack their bags at the checkpoint, a standard now common with advanced screening technology used at major airports worldwide.
Shoes and Belts Stay On
The upgrade also brings relief for passengers accustomed to removing shoes and belts before passing through security. Under the new arrangement, this step will generally not be necessary, although exceptions may still apply in certain cases.
“Unless otherwise required during security profiling, passengers may proceed through screening with footwear and belts on,” the notice said. This change is expected to reduce congestion at checkpoints and shorten the time passengers spend preparing for screening, particularly during peak travel periods.
Liquids and Gels No Longer Require Separate Checks
Passengers travelling with liquids, aerosols and gels will also notice a change in procedure. The new equipment allows these items to remain in cabin baggage without separate screening in most cases, though existing volume restrictions remain firmly in place.
“Passengers can now keep Liquids, aerosols, and Gels in their cabin baggage during screening as separate screening of LAGs may not be required. Kindly note that security regulations still prohibit LAGs that exceed 100ml in volume per container.”
Ghana Airports Company Limited
The airport authority made clear that while the screening process is becoming more convenient, compliance with international aviation safety standards remains unchanged.
Faster Processing Through Automated Trays
Beyond adjustments to what passengers can keep in their bags, GACL highlighted improvements designed to speed up the overall flow of screening. A new Automatic Tray Return System will handle the movement of trays used to hold divested items, cutting down on delays caused by manual tray handling.
“A new Automatic Tray Return System will quickly return trays to passengers for repacking of divested items,” the notice explained. This addition is expected to ease bottlenecks at checkpoints, particularly during busy hours when tray shortages have historically slowed down processing times for waiting passengers.
Gradual Rollout Across Terminals
GACL indicated that the transition to the new system will not happen all at once. Instead, the airport will phase in the equipment gradually while maintaining existing procedures alongside it during the changeover period.
This approach suggests that passengers may encounter a mix of old and new screening procedures in the short term, depending on which checkpoint or terminal they pass through during the rollout.
In closing, the Ghana Airports Company Limited appealed to travellers and stakeholders to support the transition as the airport begins operating with the new equipment in the coming days.
The upgrade forms part of broader efforts by GACL to align Accra International Airport with global aviation security standards while enhancing convenience for the growing number of passengers using its terminals each year.
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