The Ghanaian government has announced plans to rename Kotoka International Airport, the country’s main aviation gateway, back to Accra International Airport.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga disclosed that a bill will soon be laid before Parliament to approve the proposed change.
According to government officials, the move forms part of a broader national effort to ensure that public institutions and landmarks reflect Ghana’s democratic values, historical consciousness and national identity.
Kotoka International Airport was originally opened in 1958 as Accra International Airport, during the early years of Ghana’s independence. It was renamed in 1969 in honour of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a senior military officer who played a key role in the 1966 coup d’état that overthrew Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The proposed renaming has reignited public debate about how Ghana commemorates its past, particularly figures associated with military interventions in the country’s political history.
If approved by Parliament, the change would restore the airport’s original name, aligning it with the government’s stated objective of promoting democratic ideals and historical reconciliation.