Kotoka International Airport to be renamed Accra International Airport – Majority Leader

Government has announced plans to change the name of Kotoka International Airport back to Accra International Airport, a move aimed at reflecting Ghana’s democratic values and historical legacy.

Speaking during a press briefing in Parliament on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga confirmed that the process would be formalised through legislation. He stated:

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The announcement marks a significant step in a long-running national debate over how Ghana commemorates its history. Kotoka International Airport was originally opened in 1958 as Accra International Airport, with a capacity to handle around 500,000 passengers.

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 that overthrew Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Kotoka was later killed in 1967 during an attempted counter-coup at the site that would eventually become part of the airport’s forecourt.

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The Minister for Transport is expected to present the Accra International Airport Bill to Parliament in the coming weeks, setting in motion the legal process to formalise the change.