Ghana Restores Accra International Airport Name, Drops Kotoka
The Government of Ghana has formally reverted the name of the country’s main international gateway from Kotoka International Airport to its original designation, Accra International Airport.
The decision was announced on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Ministry of Transport, which said the move was aimed at restoring the airport to its former and internationally recognised name. According to the ministry, the renaming reflects the government’s position that the original title remains the most appropriate and globally acknowledged identity of the facility.
As part of the transition process, authorities said there will be a systematic update of all relevant official documentation. This will include amendments to statutory instruments where necessary, changes to airport signage, revisions to aviation publications, and updates across digital and administrative platforms to ensure uniformity in usage.
The ministry further disclosed that Accra International Airport (ACC) has consistently remained the official designation in the records of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the global body responsible for regulating international civil aviation standards and practices. This, it said, underscores the international recognition of the airport’s original name despite its previous renaming.
The facility was renamed in 1969 after Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a senior military officer who played a central role in the 1966 coup that overthrew Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and a leading figure in Africa’s independence movement. Kotoka was later killed in 1967 during a failed coup attempt at a location that now serves as the forecourt of the airport.
The renaming decision has reignited historical and political conversations within Ghana about national identity, legacy, and how public institutions should reflect the country’s foundational values. Supporters of the change argue that reverting to the airport’s original name removes the association with a military coup and aligns more closely with democratic principles and Ghana’s constitutional order.
Meanwhile, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has publicly backed calls for the airport to eventually be renamed in honour of Nkrumah. In a separate statement, the management of the park stated that Ghana’s principal international gateway should symbolise the ideals upon which the republic was founded. It described Nkrumah as the most fitting national figure to represent Ghana on the global stage, citing his role in leading the country to independence and championing Pan-Africanism.
The government has not indicated whether it will consider renaming the airport after Nkrumah or maintain the restored neutral designation permanently. For now, authorities say the focus remains on ensuring a smooth and coordinated implementation of the name change across all official and international platforms.
