In what is shaping up to be one of the most contentious land disputes in Ghana’s aviation sector, businessman Dr. Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan, is at the center of a standoff with the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) over a piece of airport land he has occupied and developed for nearly two decades.
McDan’s associates are now decrying what they call a “targeted attempt” to dispossess him of land he has protected and maintained since the mid-2000s, raising questions about fairness, transparency, and political interference.
An 18-Year Commitment Called into Question
According to sources close to the McDan Group, the company first occupied the disputed land approximately 18 years ago. During that time, McDan reportedly refused to regularize his title through the Lands Commission, choosing instead to maintain a direct understanding with GACL. While other tenants on the Kotoka International Airport stretch — including religious institutions like Action Chapel International — opted to secure their leases via formal registration, McDan’s group maintained that the land’s usage was sanctioned directly by GACL, and thus required no further title documentation.
In addition to declining to attorn tenancy to any third party, McDan is said to have invested heavily in securing the property. For more than 12 years, he financed private security operations to ward off land guards and encroachers. According to one source familiar with the arrangement, “There were times when even GACL representatives couldn’t freely access the land. On at least two occasions, their vehicles were left behind after confrontations.”
The site in question lies within the high-value airport enclave, opposite Action Chapel, and reportedly spans over 16 acres.
Traditional Authorities Allegedly Gave Consent
Beyond security, McDan also pursued dialogue with the traditional allodial owners of the land — the chiefs and elders of La, Teshie, and Nungua. The businessman reportedly compensated these custodians and obtained verbal consent to develop the area. Warehouses and other structures were then erected, not just as business assets but as deterrents against illegal occupation.
This complex blend of customary arrangements and informal administrative agreements formed the basis of McDan’s control over the property. His team has insisted that GACL was aware of all developments on the land and, at times, even tacitly endorsed them.
Sudden Turnaround by GACL
Fast-forward to 2025, and the tone from GACL has shifted dramatically. In a legal action filed earlier this year, the state-run company accused McDan’s subsidiaries of breaching the lease terms and owing significant arrears in rent and other obligations. GACL listed the total amount owed as nearly $4 million and GH¢13,000, relating to various facilities operated by McDan at Terminal 1 and surrounding areas.
On May 6, 2025, an Accra High Court granted GACL possession of the contested plots, and ordered McDan’s companies to vacate. The court further instructed them to pay GHC 50,000 in legal costs.
For GACL, the ruling affirms its commitment to reclaiming public assets. “We are simply enforcing the rule of law and holding all operators accountable,” said a spokesperson who declined to be named. “We welcome private investment but not at the expense of proper governance.”
Allegations of Political Interference
However, McDan’s allies aren’t convinced this is a straightforward enforcement of land policy. Multiple insiders allege that powerful political figures have taken an interest in the land, possibly influencing the speed and intensity of GACL’s legal action.
“This isn’t just about rent or leases. There are people in high places who want that land, and suddenly GACL finds its voice after being passive for nearly two decades?” one close source questioned.
Though no names have been officially mentioned, whispers of behind-the-scenes lobbying and executive pressure have begun circulating across business and political circles.
The Bigger Picture
Dr. McKorley, a respected industrialist and logistics magnate, has not made any direct public statement since the court ruling. However, those close to him suggest that legal counsel is reviewing the matter and that appeals could follow.
“It’s disheartening,” one senior staff member at McDan Group said anonymously. “We’ve spent years developing that land, creating jobs, investing in infrastructure, and protecting it from trespassers — only to be told now that it wasn’t ours to begin with?”
Observers believe the case could set a new precedent for lease arrangements on state-controlled land, especially in strategic zones like airports and ports. Critics say the government and its agencies must define clearer processes for regularizing land use, especially when it involves multi-million-dollar private sector developments.
Moving Forward
Whether McDan will contest the ruling or negotiate a settlement remains to be seen. For now, GACL has begun processes to re-enter and repossess the land in question. Security presence has reportedly been increased in the area, and there is speculation that new tenants could soon be introduced.
But supporters of McDan warn that a dangerous precedent is being set — one where long-term private investment can be rendered void by shifting administrative priorities and opaque political interests.
“This isn’t just about McDan,” one industry analyst said. “It’s about every Ghanaian entrepreneur who believes they’re working in good faith with the system, only to be blindsided later.”
As this high-stakes dispute unfolds, one thing remains clear: the balance between public land protection and private enterprise in Ghana still requires urgent reform and transparency.
