Ghana has officially renamed its main international airport, removing the name of a military officer associated with the 1966 overthrow of the country’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, in a move that has revived long-standing political and historical tensions.
Government officials confirmed that Kotoka International Airport will revert to its earlier name, Accra International Airport. Authorities described the decision as part of an effort to promote a more neutral national identity and foster unity, saying the change reflects a broader re-evaluation of historical symbols in public spaces.
The renaming has quickly divided public opinion. Supporters argue that removing the name corrects what they see as a historical inconsistency — honoring a figure linked to the ousting of the nation’s democratically elected leader. Critics, however, contend that the decision risks reopening old wounds and oversimplifying a complex period in Ghana’s political evolution.
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Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a senior army officer, was among the military leaders who helped topple Nkrumah’s government six decades ago while the president was on a state visit abroad. The coup marked a turning point in Ghana’s post-independence history, ushering in a period of military rule.
Kotoka was later killed in 1967 during an attempted counter-coup at the same airport that would eventually bear his name. For decades, the airport’s naming has symbolized sharply differing interpretations of Ghana’s past. For some, a recognition of military intervention during a turbulent era; for others, a painful reminder of democratic disruption.
The government has not yet announced a timeline for when signage and official documentation will fully reflect the airport’s restored name. However, the debate sparked by the decision underscores how deeply history continues to shape contemporary political discourse in Ghana.