Government Says Banjul Airport Security Fee Remains D1,000 After Unauthorised Increase
The Gambia's Ministry of Interior rejected an increase in the airport security fee from D1,000 to D1,200 in June 2023, saying the operator had not obtained government approval to charge passengers more.
Archive note: the original publication date could not be verified. March 14, 2021 is an assigned catalogue date for this record.
The Gambia's Ministry of Interior rejected an increase in the airport security fee from D1,000 to D1,200 in June 2023, saying the operator had not obtained government approval to charge passengers more.
The ministry's intervention followed reports that Securiport had started seeking the higher amount from travellers at Banjul International Airport. Officials said the authorised charge remained D1,000, also expressed as US$20, because the government had not changed the levy.
The disagreement raised a question beyond the amount charged at the airport. If a fee is established by a government agreement, who has the power to amend it, what notice must passengers receive, and how can the public verify that collection agents are applying the correct rate? The ministry said it remained responsible for oversight.
The broader security-fee arrangement had already attracted scrutiny over collection methods, financial reporting and the burden on travellers. The ministry's 2023 statement addressed the disputed increase, not the wider question of whether the underlying contract should continue.