The information gathered suggests Ghana’s only international airport, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), will be renamed soon.
According to Ghana Chronicles, the Kotoka International Airport is set to be renamed.
For decades, the name Kotoka International Airport has been seen as an insult by many and a painful reminder of the conspiracy between the country’s political elite and foreign powers.
Many Ghanaians argue that naming the airport after Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kotoka, a military officer who played a key role in overthrowing Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is a dishonour to the country’s founder.
Asiedu Nketiah, the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that Kotoka International Airport needs a name change.
According to him, the name has remained unchanged over the years because no government has dared to change it.
Speaking in an interview on Radio Gold, Asiedu Nketia stated, “Kotoka carried out a coup, overthrew Kwame Nkrumah, and named the airport after himself. That is not right. Kwame Nkrumah did all the work, and Kotoka came and took the glory after the coup. I believe we need to change that name.
Several governments have come and gone, but none has had the courage to change it. That is why the airport is still called Kotoka. If it were up to me, there should be a name change”.
Also, Veteran Ghanaian journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has questioned the rationale behind the naming of the Kotoka International Airport in honour of a national traitor.
According to him, the nation cannot justify its decision to name the country’s airport after Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a coup plotter who caused Ghana’s retrogression.
“Those forces engaged in the coup were anti-national forces collaborating with his own government to subvert the independence of Ghana. How do you name an airport after Kotoka?
“How do you justify naming an airport after a national traitor, clearly a national traitor. What did he do? he participated in the ploy by western intelligence agencies headed by the CIA to overthrow a popular democratically elected government of the Republic of Ghana, which was spearheading the African revolution. He participated in a plot which has led to where we are today.”
The recent challenge comes from Democracy Hub and the Convention People’s Party (CPP), who have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court, demanding a name change.
Clearly, the decision to name Ghana’s only international airport after an officer who led a coup has been controversial ever since.
Meanwhile, some Ghanaians have reacted to the news by saying, “Finally, Ghana is going to redeem the honour of Africa by not celebrating a CIA agent who removed Africa’s illustrious leader, Kwame Nkrumah, from power. The name Kotoka lives in infamy. Ghana was shaming Africa by honouring such a traitor. Bravo, President John Mahama”.
Another stated, “Thank goodness! 🙏🏽Finally, the name “Kotoka” will be removed from the Accra International Airport. It’s long overdue. Ghana deserves a name that reflects truth, unity, and honor, not betrayal. This is a step in the right direction”.
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BREAKING:
Kotoka International Airport set to be renamed.— Ghana Chronicles (@_GhChronicles) July 9, 2025