By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
A high-stakes fusion of technological ambition and historical reckoning is redrawing the map of Ghanaian aviation. The Ghanaian government has initiated a sweeping $800 million (GH₵12.8 billion) modernization program paired with a provocative renaming of its primary gateway. The facility formerly known as Kotoka International Airport has officially reverted to its original title, Accra International Airport. This transition marks a pivotal moment in President John Dramani Mahama’s economic reset agenda, blending high-tech infrastructure goals with a deep-seated national debate over history and political legacy.
Technological Leap in Passenger Processing
Travelers at Terminal 2 will soon encounter a security experience that mirrors the world’s most advanced hubs. Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) is preparing to install 3D analogue baggage scanners designed to streamline checkpoints. Managing Director Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare confirmed that the technology will end the cumbersome requirement for passengers to remove liquids or electronics.
The upgrade aims to eliminate the friction often associated with international travel. Opare noted that GACL is also pushing to repeal the rule requiring passengers to remove their shoes. “We are bringing in 3D analogue scanners for baggage screening so passengers don’t have to take out things like liquids,” Opare said during the 5th Aviation Ghana Breakfast Meeting. She emphasized the necessity of modernization by stating, “We are in 2026, and we need to enhance the passenger experience.”
Funding the Vision Through the AIDC
To finance these ambitious upgrades, the government introduced the Airport Infrastructure Development Charge (AIDC), set to take effect on April 1. Approved under the 2026 national budget, the levy applies a $100 (GH₵1,600) fee for international return trips—a significant increase from initial proposals—$15 (GH₵240) for ECOWAS travel, and $30 (GH₵480) for other African routes. This passenger-based funding model seeks to raise $800 million (GH₵12.8 billion) over ten years to fix structural weaknesses in Ghana’s aviation financing.
While the Board of Airline Representatives Ghana (BARGH) warns these fees could make Ghana’s sector uncompetitive, Mrs. Opare emphasised that the objective of the charge is not only to raise revenue but to directly improve airport infrastructure and passenger comfort. The strategy moves away from the old system of cross-subsidisation, where the main international hub solo-funded smaller regional facilities. “Airlines and passengers are our priority. We will do everything we have to do to make sure that Ghana has the experience so that even if we are charging these taxes, the experience and the facility will make up for it,” she stated. She expressed optimism that public support would follow visible results. “I believe that if we see what the money is going towards, if Ghanaians see that this charge is funding these facilities, I think it will go easier with our citizenry,” she added.
The Contentious Return to Accra International
The decision to strip the name of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka from the airport has ignited a fierce political firestorm. Kotoka was a lead figure in the 1966 coup that overthrew Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. The Ministry of Transport framed the reversion as a return to an “internationally recognised name” that honors the Ga people, the traditional custodians of the land where the airport sits.
The debate intensified following the Majority Leader’s February 3rd announcement regarding the legislative push to revert the name—a move timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the 1966 coup. Proponents of the change argue that a democratic nation should not name its premier gateway after an individual associated with the military overthrow of an elected government. Bongo MP Charles Bawaduah argued the change projects Ghana as a strong democracy by ensuring its gateway does not celebrate such history.
Regional Tensions and Political Fallout
The renaming has not been met with universal acclaim. Critics view the decision as a targeted erasure of a national figure from the Volta Region. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin led the dissent, characterizing the move as a betrayal of General Kotoka’s home region. He accused senior National Democratic Congress (NDC) figures from the area of silently watching the erasure of one of the few national symbols recognizing heroism from their region.
Despite the domestic friction, the Ministry of Transport maintains that the “ACC” airport code remains unchanged and operations will continue without interruption. The government has called on stakeholders to cooperate during the transition of signage and digital platforms. As Ghana positions itself as the premier aviation hub of West Africa, the success of this $800 million (GH₵12.8 billion) gamble will depend on whether the promised efficiency can outweigh the political divisions and the high cost of travel created by its rebranding.
