Ghana has officially renamed its main international gateway, dropping the name of Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a military officer linked to the 1966 overthrow of the country’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. The facility will now revert to its earlier title, Accra International Airport, in what officials describe as an effort to project a more neutral national identity.
A Controversial Legacy
Kotoka was a senior army officer who played a central role in the coup that removed Nkrumah from power. He was later killed at the airport during a failed counter-coup in 1967. Two years later, the military administration renamed the airport in his honour, portraying him as a figure who intervened against authoritarian rule.
The current government argues that restoring the airport’s original name better reflects Ghana’s democratic trajectory and aligns with the identity of the capital city.
Divided Public Opinion
The decision has sparked sharp debate:
- Supporters say honouring a coup leader undermines Ghana’s democratic values and constitutional order.
- Critics argue the move erases Kotoka’s role in Ghana’s history and risks deepening regional grievances.
- Opposition voices question the timing, pointing to pressing economic challenges such as unemployment and rising living costs.
Online, the debate has intensified, with Ghanaians split over whether the renaming corrects a historical contradiction or erases part of the country’s past.
Historical Context
The controversy reopens wider debates about Nkrumah’s removal, which scholars have long examined for its Cold War international dimension, including alleged involvement by Western intelligence agencies.
Nkrumah, who led Ghana to independence in 1957 and became a leading voice in the pan-African movement, was later criticised domestically for consolidating power. His ouster ushered in years of political instability marked by repeated military takeovers until multiparty democracy was restored in 1992.
Symbolism and Stability
Transport officials stress that the renaming is symbolic rather than operational, with aviation safety and services unaffected. Yet the move underscores how Ghana’s turbulent past continues to shape national conversations about identity, memory, and democracy.
