Lawyer Yaw Anokye Frimpong, speaking on Ikulcha Radio and TV with host Kwesi E Baako, has weighed into the national debate on the proposed renaming of Kotoka International Airport, a move that has ignited widespread discussion across political, historical, and cultural lines in Ghana.
Frimpong argued that any decision to rename the country’s main international airport should focus on celebrating the positive aspects of Ghana’s history, rather than honouring figures whose legacy may be deeply contested. He emphasised that history should be remembered for good things that unite the nation, and that the symbolic names of national landmarks ought to reflect values that inspire pride, progress, and shared identity.
The government has proposed legislation to revert the airport’s name back to Accra International Airport, restoring the original designation it held when it opened in 1958 before being renamed in 1969 after Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a military figure associated with the political turbulence of the 1960s. Supporters of the change argue that it would recognise the contributions and sacrifices of the original landowners and depoliticise the name of Ghana’s aviation gateway.
While some see Kotoka’s role in history as controversial due to his connection with a coup that ousted Ghana’s first president, others argue that changing the airport’s name may risk overlooking parts of the nation’s past.
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