Parliament prepares for battle over Ghana’s symbolic airport name change

By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent

The Ghanaian government’s proposal to rename Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Accra International Airport marks a significant pivot in the nation’s “politics of memory.” Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga announced on Tuesday, February 3, 2026—coinciding with the 60th anniversary month of the 1966 coup—that the move aims to align national landmarks with democratic ideals. The decision targets a name that has stood since 1969, honoring Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka. While the government frames this as a return to the facility’s original 1958 identity, the move touches upon deep-seated historical nerves. “Government intends to rename Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport,” Ayariga stated, signaling that a formal bill will soon head to Parliament.

Confronting the Legacy of 1966

At the heart of the debate is General Kotoka’s role in the 1966 coup that ousted Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. For decades, the airport’s name has been a point of friction for those who view the coup as a setback for African liberation. Political historian Prof. Samuel Adu-Gyamfi argues that public symbols should inspire unity. “I do not think that General Kotoka’s name represents history, traditions and culture in its best form,” Prof. Adu-Gyamfi noted, suggesting the gateway should honor figures who define shared success.

Reclaiming the Gateway and Honoring Landowners

The push for renaming also receives strong backing as a gesture toward local indigenous rights and institutional neutrality. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, describes the current naming as a glorification of unconstitutional power transitions. “We cannot continue to name our premier international gateway… after a figure associated with the violent and unconstitutional overthrow of our nation’s founder,” Buah remarked.

Ayariga further emphasized that the change acknowledges the Ga people, whose ancestral lands the airport occupies, stating, “It is not fair to the people of Accra. They gave their land… and then it was changed to another name.” Crucially, the Majority Leader sought to soften the political blow by clarifying that the move is not a personal indictment of the late General. “This has nothing to do with his personality… I do not see a reason why an airport should not be named after him,” Ayariga explained, arguing instead that the premier international gateway should remain neutral and tied to the capital city’s identity.

The Resumption of Ghana Airways: A Unified Brand

The renaming proposal is inextricably linked to the government’s ambitious timeline to relaunch a national carrier by early 2027. Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe recently confirmed that a 10-member task force is finalizing the business model for the new airline. Aviation experts note that while the facility’s name will change, its permanent IATA code “ACC” will remain, ensuring no disruption to global ticketing systems. Analysts suggest that reverting to “Accra International Airport” provides a cleaner, more marketable brand for the revived Ghana Airways. Aligning the national airline with a city-named hub mirrors successful models like Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa or Kenya Airways in Nairobi, positioning Accra as a simplified, stable gateway for West African aviation.

A Polarized Landscape: The Ideological Rift

The announcement has triggered a wave of reactions across the globe. In Accra, voices like social commentator A Plus have called for even more drastic measures, suggesting that the legacy of coup leaders be treated as an “enemy of the state.” Conversely, members of the Ghanaian diaspora have expressed mixed feelings; while many applaud the restoration of Nkrumah’s era identity, others—including legal scholar Prof. Kwaku Azar—warn that the move is a “distraction” that fails to solve deeper structural issues like unpaid public sector salaries. “Does it improve education? Or does it simply create the illusion of moral action?” Azar questioned, highlighting a sentiment shared by some who view the rebranding cost as a burden during economic recovery.

Voices from the Street and the Diaspora

Local residents like taxi driver Nii Armah Tagoe, who operates daily at the airport arrivals, expressed a firm opposition to the move based on current priorities. “We have high fuel prices and roads that need fixing; changing a sign from Kotoka to Accra doesn’t put food on my table or petrol in my tank,” Tagoe noted, echoing the sentiment that the renaming is a secondary concern to the economy.

In the Ghanaian diaspora, the reaction is equally split. From London, legal consultant and heritage advocate Ellen Ansah applauded the move as a long-overdue correction of Ghana’s international image. “As someone who flies back every December, it always felt contradictory to arrive at a gate named after a man who dismantled our first democracy; returning to ‘Accra’ feels like we are finally welcoming the world with a clean hand,” Ansah stated.

However, in the United States, some younger Ghanaians remain largely indifferent to the historical tug-of-war. New York-based software engineer Kwesi Sarpong remarked that the name is far less important than the facility’s efficiency. “To be honest, most of us just call it ‘KIA’ or ‘the airport’ anyway; as long as the Wi-Fi works and the immigration lines are short, the name on the building doesn’t really change my travel experience,” he explained.

The Opposition: Legal Caution and the Rawlings Precedent

However, the proposal faces a wall of resistance from legal scholars and the Minority in Parliament. Legal scholar Prof. Kwaku Azar warned that the move risks erasing historical lessons, stating, “A nation that is at peace with itself does not spend its time endlessly renaming its landmarks.” Minority Ranking Member Kennedy Osei Nyarko has challenged the fiscal prudence of the move, noting that rebranding an international airport can cost between $2 million (GH₵21.9 million) and $5 million (GH₵54.7 million) for signage, documentation, and digital updates. Nyarko also cited the “Rawlings Precedent,” noting that even former President Jerry John Rawlings, a critic of the 1966 coup, never sought to change the name. “Not even Chairman Rawlings made any attempts at renaming the airport,” Nyarko stated, warning against “overly politicizing” national assets.

Legislative Strategy and Global Branding

The renaming strategy mirrors a continental trend where African nations re-evaluate military-era nomenclature. By reverting to “Accra International Airport,” the government seeks a neutral brand—a move long advocated by Samia Nkrumah to honor the 1958

civilian completion of the site. Ayariga revealed this is part of a broader transport package, including the Maritime Offences Bill and the Road Traffic Bill intended to regulate “okada” operations. “The Minister for Transport will bring the Maritime Offences Bill and the Road Traffic Bill… He will also bring the Ghana Shippers Council Regulation Bill,” Ayariga noted.

A Gateway to the Future or a Re-entry into the Past?

The push to rename Ghana’s primary gateway is more than a legislative formality; it is a profound attempt to redefine the nation’s “handshake” with the world. By bundling this change with broader transport reforms and the revival of a national airline, the government is betting that a neutral, city-centric brand will foster unity and boost global competitiveness. However, as the 9th Parliament prepares for a heated debate, the ultimate success of the “Accra International Airport Bill” will depend on whether Ghanaians view it as a necessary historical correction or a costly symbolic detour. In a landscape where names carry the weight of both betrayal and liberation, the final decision will signal whether Ghana is ready to settle its national conscience or simply enter a new chapter of its ongoing identity struggle.

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