- Ghana Airports Company Limited is deploying new security equipment at Accra International Airport Terminals 2 and 3.
- Passengers can now keep laptops and liquids inside cabin baggage during routine security screening checks.
- The new system rolls out in August 2026, though the 100ml liquid container limit remains strictly enforced.
Ghana Airports Company Limited has deployed new security screening equipment at Terminals 2 and 3 of Accra International Airport, allowing passengers to leave laptops, shoes, belts and qualifying liquids inside their cabin bags during routine checks.
The change reduces the number of items travelers must unpack. Additional inspections remain possible.
GACL announced the rollout in a public statement dated July 12, 2026. The equipment is being introduced in stages, with the company expecting operations to begin in August 2026 as the transition expands.
Free toolB1/B2 Tourist Visa Stay Calculator onlineThe liquid rule has not changed. Containers above 100ml remain restricted, even when liquids can stay inside cabin baggage.
Passengers selected for additional security profiling may still be told to remove shoes, belts or other belongings. Airport staff instructions continue to apply at each checkpoint.
Passengers can keep four categories of items packed
The new procedure covers laptops and other large electronic devices, footwear, belts, and Liquids, Aerosols and Gels, known as LAGs. Items that qualify under the new process can remain in cabin baggage during routine checks.
| Item | Routine checkpoint treatment | Rule that remains |
|---|---|---|
| Laptops and other large electronic devices | May remain in cabin baggage | Staff may require further inspection |
| Shoes | Normally may remain on | Removal can be ordered during additional profiling |
| Belts | Normally may remain on | Removal can be ordered during additional profiling |
| Liquids, Aerosols and Gels | May remain in cabin baggage | The 100ml limit still applies |
The change is designed to reduce unpacking and checkpoint handling. It should make the process less invasive for passengers moving through the upgraded lanes.
The company has also introduced an Automatic Tray Return System. The equipment sends trays back toward the loading area after use, helping passengers retrieve belongings and repack more quickly.
The transition will run beside older procedures
GACL said migration to the new arrangement will happen “progressively or in phases and alongside the existing procedures and equipment.” Travelers may therefore encounter different instructions within the two terminals while the rollout continues.
The July announcement marks the introduction of the equipment. Broader operations are expected in August 2026.
That distinction affects how passengers prepare. A lane using the new system may allow cabin items to remain packed, while another lane may still operate under the existing process during the transition.
The company has asked passengers to cooperate with airport officials as staff and travelers adjust to the change. Instructions from officers can override the routine process when a passenger is selected for further checks.
“Passengers will also no longer be required to remove their shoes and belts during screening unless instructed to do so as part of security profiling.”
The exception is specific. The new arrangement does not prevent targeted inspection.
The 100ml restriction remains in force
Passengers may keep eligible liquids in their bags, but the container limit remains unchanged. A liquid container above 100ml does not become acceptable simply because it can stay inside cabin baggage.
The same principle applies to the other newly covered items. Routine handling changes, while officers retain authority to request additional inspection.
GACL’s notice also states: “Laptops and other large electronic devices can now remain in your cabin baggage during screening.” The wording applies to routine checks, not every possible inspection scenario.
Travelers should follow the directions displayed at their lane and those given by airport personnel. The process may differ until the phased installation reaches all relevant checkpoints.
The upgrade follows an equipment plan announced in May
President John Dramani Mahama discussed the planned airport equipment on May 25, 2026, linking it to the removal of routine shoe, belt, laptop and liquid handling at airport checkpoints.
“In August, we’re receiving and installing new equipment to end the inconvenience of removing shoes and belts at our airports. new 3D scanners are being installed. [to] eliminate the need to remove laptops and liquids from hand luggage.”
The July deployment puts that announcement into the airport’s staged implementation process. The public statement did not make the transition instantaneous across every lane.
GACL Managing Director Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare had highlighted “continuous innovation” during Aviation Security Week in February 2026. The company’s current rollout adds new checkpoint equipment while existing procedures remain part of the transition.
Passengers using Terminals 2 and 3 in August should allow time for lane-specific directions, especially while the equipment operates alongside older arrangements. The 100ml liquid limit and the possibility of additional profiling will continue after the new system expands.
