Ghana’s Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has defended the government’s plan to rename Kotoka International Airport, describing the move as a practical restructuring rather than a politically motivated decision.
Speaking during a working visit to the State Transport Corporation on Wednesday, February 3, 2026, Nikpe explained that renaming the airport to Accra International Airport is intended to give it a neutral and geographically descriptive identity.
“This has nothing to do with politics, Accra is our capital city. It doesn’t belong to any individual, and naming the airport after the capital is in line with international practice,” he said.
Nikpe added that the proposed change aligns with global norms, where major airports are often named after the cities they serve, rather than individuals. He emphasised that the decision is focused on recognising Ghana’s identity and following international standards.
“We are not doing this to cause pain or harm to anyone. We are simply looking at the geographical importance of Accra and practices elsewhere in the world,” he noted.
The Ministry of Transport is preparing a bill to formalise the renaming, which will soon be laid before Parliament, according to Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.
The change would come 59 years after the airport was originally named Kotoka International Airport (KIA), a name linked to Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kotoka, a figure in Ghana’s 1966 coup. The government maintains that the move is part of a broader effort to modernise and streamline national infrastructure.
