The Ministry of Transport is set to present a bill in Parliament seeking to rename Kotoka International Airport as Accra International Airport, according to the Majority Leader.
The proposed legislation, expected to be laid before the House in the coming days, forms part of a broader effort to review national symbols and public infrastructure names in line with contemporary historical and political considerations. If passed, the bill would formally change the name of Ghana’s main international gateway from Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Majority Leader said the move reflects ongoing national conversations about identity, history, and how public institutions should be represented. He indicated that the government believes the time is right for Parliament to deliberate on the issue and take a decision through due legislative process.
Kotoka International Airport, located in Accra, is named after Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a key figure in the 1966 coup that overthrew Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah. The name has remained a subject of debate for years, with critics arguing that national infrastructure should not honour individuals associated with unconstitutional changes of government.
Supporters of the proposed change say renaming the airport after the capital city would provide a neutral, globally recognisable identity, while avoiding historical controversy. Others, however, are expected to raise concerns about cost implications, legal processes, and the broader significance of revisiting long-standing national names.
Parliamentary debate on the bill is anticipated to attract strong views across the political divide, as well as renewed public discussion on how Ghana engages with its past while shaping its national symbols for the future.
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