Accra Kotoka Airport

I've had the pleasure and unique opportunity of checking-in at Accra's Kotoka International Airport on several occasions. The general service and style of the airport that of a third world country airport. Regular delays of flights inattentive staff and long slow-moving queues. However this all adds to the personality of the airport. It has character. Before your flight you can grind on some tasty kebabs at the thatched-roof kiosk near the parking lot. I do feel you can enjoy this airport if you go with an open mind and adventurous spirit.

Kotoka airport has certainly been "cleaned up" in terms of its appearance. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about its personnel staff. My most recent encounter with Kotoka airport was on 31 March 2004. It's certainly left me disappointed enough to want to write this email. Having arrived over 2hrs early in order to check in for my flight I then had to endure the following frustrating events. Having checked in I made my way to what appears to be a "Security Point". I was asked to complete an immigration card. As I didn't have a pen I asked a member of staff to lend me his. I was totally ignored. Another traveller (a Ghanian man) who was obviously as embarrassed as I by this apparent curtness informed me that I would be seen to soon. Meanwhile an official with his family were waved through before my request was attended to. This particular member of staff made no attempt by way of an apology for ignoring me for a over five minutes. I completed the card and handed it over. He took it examined it along with my travel documents and then waved me on like a naughty school child (I felt sufficiently humiliated to feel like a 10 yr old and not an adult of 37yrs). I then foolishly made the mistake of wanting to purchase a drink in the bar next to the Duty Free Shop. I requested a glass of wine from a female bar staff. She advised me that I could only purchase a bottle of wine and then walked away before I could even enquire about an alternative drink. I was sufficiently aghast enough to just stand rooted for a minute or so. Another bar staff noted this approached me and asked if I required a service. I informed her that I did but I didn't think I would receive it (I then went and sat down). Having eventually made it to the departure lounge I found myself along with other passengers waiting for over an hour to board tour plan. There were no announcements to explain this delay. In actually fact the apology came from the captain (KLM). I can only say that I feel sufficiently frustrated and humiliated enough to seriously consider not returning back to Ghana in the immediate future.