Accra Kotoka Airport

Here is a summary of our experience at Kotoka International Airport Accra. I was travelling with my 21 year old son from Accra to Washington DC on United Airlines on Monday November 7, 2022, 11.45pm.
We checked in our luggage, received our boarding passes, cleared immigration and security. On our way to gate I noticed that my name was mentioned in an announcement. At the gate we were told that our luggage got intercepted and that we would have to confirm what was in it. I suggested that whoever wants to talk to us could come to the gate and do so, but the gate agents (two ladies) insisted that we needed to go back to the check-in counter and answer questions there. On our way back Ghana Immigration took our passports away. At check-in an airport employee led us to a freight elevator which took us down to the area where freight is handled. This is where they separated my son from me, and, as I learned from him later, they took him to a room, locked the gate, and he was detained with three airport employees. They threatened him and demanded a bribe. After he gave them his remaining Ghanaian currency they allowed him to leave. He was terrified and very upset.
I believe all the employees we encountered knew what was going on. Why would Ghana Immigration allow someone with an exit stamp in the passport re-entering the country ?
The well-intentioned posters in the airport stating that "We do not condone extortion at our airports" are not sufficient. There is no phone number to call and nobody to talk to.
The facilities are nice but watch your back !

Do not take the so-called “airport taxis” at Kotoka airport. They have sheets of paper with atrocious fixed fares on them. On 4 October 2022 I arrived by KLM at Kotoka. The rate was Ghs 100 from the airport to Cantonments near the American embassy.

Kotoka airport (Ghana) warning for other travellers.

There's a deliberate system of entrapment.

We arrived at the airport to drop off my friend who was travelling. As she had to pick up a copy of her Covid test result we dropped her off and was told by one of the staff that we should rather drive around to the other side by the bus stop.

We drove around the area waiting for her to call us that she was ready so we could drive her to the new side of the airport to catch her flight.

When she was ready, we drove to the side of the road (near the bus stop) where the staff member told us to go to. Another member of staff then proceeded to stand by the car, said you can't pick up here and called over two other men who put a clamp on our wheel. This happened in the space of less than 30 seconds.

We were shocked of course and told them she would be late for her flight to which he responded he doesn't care.
They demanded we pay 150 cedis.

While we were talking to the men, several cars parked in the same spot and picked up passengers. We asked why their cars weren't being clamped too. They stood by and let these cars pick up and drive off. They continued to refuse to unclamp our car.

We paid the 150 cedis because we didnt want our friend to miss her flight. The attendant then tried to refuse to give us a receipt for the fine we just paid which led to more arguing.

During this time one of the attendants used his hand to push our brother who then push him back. Us ladies had to stand between the men to stop them physically fighting. He obviously wanted to pocket the cash.

We dropped our friend and enquired with other airport staff where the main office is for the enforcers. We spoke to two men  at the office who said they were supervisors. They listened to our story and I showed them the video clip. They didnt offer any assistance except to say we should come back tomorrow morning to speak to the general manager.

Looks like everyone there is probably taking a portion of the money from this operation they have going on. As a Ghanaian, I feel the corruption here (from the top down) is too widespread, preventing our country from improving.