Policy analyst Bright Simons has raised concerns that Aboniki Balm, a widely used household remedy in Ghana, is being confiscated from travellers passing through pre-boarding security at Accra's Kotoka International Airport. According to Simons, Aviation Security officials consider the balm "hot", a classification that is not among the recognised categories of hazards typically used in aviation safety screening.
Aboniki Balm is a non-prescription topical pain reliever that is a staple in many Ghanaian homes, commonly used for muscle aches, joint pain and colds. Simons pointed out that the product is technically a medicine, even if sold over the counter, and that standard airport screening rules generally permit passengers to carry medicines in reasonable quantities for personal use.
Simons questioned why Aboniki would be singled out when other common Ghanaian products that could arguably also be described as "hot" — such as shito or Tabasco sauce — do not appear to face the same restriction. He used this comparison to argue that the enforcement around the balm may be inconsistent or poorly defined.
Simons also drew attention to broader inconsistencies in airport security screening generally, noting that passengers are often barred from bringing liquids such as water from outside the terminal, yet can purchase alcohol at duty-free shops and carry it onboard once it has been sealed by a "pre-screened" retailer.
The policy analyst suggested that the complexity and contradictions built into airport security rules leave considerable room for discretion by individual security officers, which he said could explain why Aboniki is being treated the way it reportedly is. Simons raised the possibility that the restriction may not stem from any formal policy at all, but rather from overzealous frontline security staff applying their own interpretation of the rules.
As of the time of Simons's post, neither the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority nor Aviation Security at the airport had issued any public statement explaining or confirming the restriction on Aboniki Balm. It remains unclear whether the practice reflects an official policy, an informal interpretation by screening staff, or a misunderstanding that has become routine at checkpoints.
For now, travellers passing through Kotoka International Airport with the balm in their luggage risk having it confiscated, with no published guidance from aviation authorities to tell them otherwise. No timeline has been given for any review or clarification of the policy, and it is not yet known whether the Ghana Airports Company Limited or Aviation Security will respond publicly to the concerns raised.
Key points
- The restriction on Aboniki Balm may be inconsistent or poorly defined.
- The enforcement around the balm may not stem from any formal policy at all.
- Travellers risk having the balm confiscated with no published guidance from aviation authorities.
