The Government of Ghana has officially reverted the name of the country’s main international airport from Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Transport on Monday, the facility was previously known as Accra International Airport before its name was changed in 1969 to honour Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka.
The Ministry indicated that it has been deemed appropriate to return the airport to its former and internationally recognised name.
The statement assured the public that the name change will not affect airport operations, safety standards, or international travel arrangements.
It further noted that the airport code, “ACC,” as registered with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), has always remained the same and will continue to be used.
The renaming process will involve the systematic update of official documentation, relevant statutory instruments, airport signage, digital platforms, aviation publications, and other related communication materials.
The government has called on the general public, stakeholders, and international partners to cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
The Ministry expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their continued support.
The debate over renaming Kotoka International Airport intensified over the past month, following the Majority Leader’s February 3 announcement that the government would introduce a bill to revert the airport to its original name, Accra International Airport. The move was framed as honouring the Ga people whose lands were acquired for its construction and correcting what some view as the glorification of unconstitutional regime change.
This legislative push divided opinion, with proponents like Bongo MP Charles Bawaduah arguing that the change projects Ghana as a strong democracy by ensuring its main gateway does not celebrate the overthrow of an elected government.
However, the proposal faced fierce criticism, most notably from Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who condemned it as a betrayal of the Volta Region, General Kotoka’s home, and accused senior NDC figures from the area of silently watching the erasure of one of the few national symbols recognising heroism from their region.