The Ghanaian government has clarified that the decision to revert the country’s main airport to its original name, Accra International Airport, was a purely executive one, as the 1969 renaming was never formalized by parliamentary law.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Minister for Transport Joseph Nikwe Bukari explained that the original designation, Kotoka International Airport, was established via a decree aimed at creating a trust for the families of soldiers who died during the 1966 coup, not as a permanent legislative act.
“It was a decree that was brought to set a trust to cater for the families of Kotoka and other soldiers who were killed at that time,” Mr. Bukari stated. He noted that while the decree honoured Lt Gen Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka—who was killed at the airport’s forecourt—by renaming the facility, the core purpose was the trust fund. “There was no legislation in Parliament to operationalise it,” he added. “The rightful thing is for us to come to an executive announcement again that the name is reverted to its original name.”
The Ministry of Transport formally announced the name change earlier this week, stating that the original name better reflects the airport’s historical identity and international standing.
‘Minimal Cost’ Involved in Rebranding
Mr. Bukari also moved to allay concerns about the financial implications of the reversion, assuring the public that the cost would be minimal. He revealed that international aviation identifiers have remained unchanged since 1969, meaning global operations will not be disrupted.
“ICAO still maintains the country code DGAA, and IATA still maintains the country code ACC,” the Minister explained. “So, there’s nothing to change at the international level.”
He detailed that the changes would primarily involve local signage and stationery. “The only thing to change is the signage and the billboards,” he said. “It’s just a matter of the Kotoka out and the Accra in… It is going to be a minimum cost because of the ongoing renovation. The cost involved will be very, very small.”
The ministry confirmed that implementation will involve updating official documents, digital platforms, and aviation publications to reflect the restored name, assuring the public and international partners that operations will continue without interruption.
A Symbolic Change on a Historic Date
The restoration, which takes effect immediately, coincides with the 60th anniversary of the February 24, 1966, coup that overthrown Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah.
Originally opened in 1958 as Accra International Airport, the facility was renamed in 1969 to honour Lt Gen Kotoka, a key figure in the military overthrow. The decision has long been a subject of public debate, with critics arguing that naming the nation’s primary gateway after a coup leader conflicts with Ghana’s democratic values.
Supporters of the reversion view the move as correcting a historical anomaly while suggesting that Lt Gen Kotoka’s legacy can still be honoured through other means.
