After decades of operating as Kotoka International Airport, Ghana’s busiest gateway is reverting to its earlier identity. The government has formally reinstated the name Accra International Airport, restoring what officials describe as the facility’s original and globally recognised title.
The Ministry of Transport, in a public statement, traced the airport’s naming history, noting that it first bore the name Accra International Airport before it was later changed. Following a review, the Ministry determined that returning to the former name was justified.
Authorities emphasised that the adjustment is limited to nomenclature and will not interfere with flight operations, safety protocols or international travel arrangements. The airport’s ICAO code, “ACC,” remains intact and unchanged.
The transition will be rolled out through systematic revisions to statutory instruments, official records, aviation publications, signage, digital platforms and other communication materials connected to the airport.
READ ALSO: MUSIGA Lobbies For State-Assisted Funeral For Yaw Sarpong
The government has appealed to industry players, development partners and the general public to cooperate with implementing agencies to ensure the process unfolds without disruption. The Ministry expressed appreciation for the continued collaboration of stakeholders.
The decision comes on the heels of sustained national debate. On February 3, the Majority Leader disclosed plans to introduce legislation aimed at restoring the airport’s original name. Proponents framed the move as recognition of the Ga people whose lands were acquired for the airport’s construction and as a step away from what they view as the celebration of unconstitutional regime change.
Supporters, including Bongo MP Charles Bawaduah, argue that removing Kotoka’s name reinforces Ghana’s democratic image by ensuring the country’s principal entry point does not memorialise the overthrow of an elected government.
Read the statement below.
