Ghana removes coup leader Kotoka’s name from Accra international airport
The Ghanaian government has renamed the country’s main international gateway in Accra from Kotoka International Airport to its original name, Accra International Airport.
In a statement on Tuesday, the country’s transport ministry said the decision was taken to restore the facility to its former and internationally recognised name.
“The government has considered it appropriate to restore the airport to its former and internationally recognised name,” the statement reads.
The ministry said the implementation of the change will involve a systematic update of official documentation, statutory instruments where necessary, airport signage, aviation publications and digital platforms.
It added that Accra International Airport (ACC) has remained the official designation in the records of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The airport was renamed in 1969 after Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a military officer who played a key role in the 1966 coup that overthrew Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president.
Kotoka was later killed during a failed coup attempt in 1967 at a site that now serves as the forecourt of the airport.
Meanwhile, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has backed calls for the facility to be renamed after Nkrumah.
In a separate statement, the park said the country’s principal international gateway should reflect the ideals and historical foundations of the republic, describing Nkrumah as the most fitting symbol to represent Ghana to the world.
The Cable
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