Ghana to Rename Kotoka International Airport

West Africa WeeklyFebruary 4, 20261 Mins read186

Ghana’s government is preparing to rename the country’s main international gateway, Kotoka International Airport, as Accra International Airport. The proposal is expected to be brought before Parliament as part of the government’s legislative agenda for the new session.

The airport is currently named after Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a key figure in the 1966 coup that overthrew Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. Supporters of the change argue that retaining the name continues to honour a military intervention that disrupted Ghana’s democratic path. In contrast, a location-based name better reflects national values and historical balance.

Government officials say the move is also meant to strengthen national identity and acknowledge the Ga people, on whose land the airport sits. They insist the proposal is not driven by partisanship but by the need to correct what they describe as a historical anomaly.

The plan, however, has sparked public debate. Critics have questioned the timing of the renaming and raised concerns about the cost implications, arguing that resources should instead be directed toward more urgent economic and social challenges.

Parliament is expected to consider the bill in the coming weeks, setting the stage for a broader national conversation about history, memory, and public space.