Ghana’s Consular to Guinea-Bissau calls for renaming of Kotoka International Airport
The Chief Executive Officer of Pribet Group and Ghana’s Consular to Guinea-Bissau, Prince Lamptey Tetteh, has urged the government to consider renaming the Kotoka International Airport, arguing that its current name does not reflect the nation’s democratic values.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Tetteh, who described himself as a concerned citizen, said Ghana has made significant strides on its democratic journey and must ensure that national monuments project a positive image to both citizens and foreigners.
He noted that the airport, being Ghana’s main international gateway, frequently attracts questions from visitors about its name. According to him, naming it after Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kotoka, who played a key role in the 1966 coup, raises concerns.
“Our airport is one of the first things foreigners ask about. When we tell them it is named Kotoka International Airport, they want to know more. The problem is that Kotoka was a coup maker, and during his time, nothing good came to Ghana. Yet, we say democracy is the path we have chosen. Why then do we continue to glorify a coup through the name of our airport?” Mr Tetteh questioned.
He suggested that renaming the airport would better reflect Ghana’s democratic gains and serve as a positive example for future generations. Drawing comparisons with the country’s political history, he said that although the late former President Jerry John Rawlings came to power through a coup, he eventually transitioned Ghana to constitutional rule in 1992.
Mr Tetteh further lamented that the significance of December 31 as a symbol of that transition had been eroded when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government cancelled the holiday, making it harder for younger generations to learn about the impact of coups and Ghana’s democratic journey.
“I was even expecting that when the NPP cancelled the 31st December holiday, they would also remove the name Kotoka from the airport because both are reminders of our coup past,” he added.
He called on government and national leaders to take a second look at the issue and consider giving Ghana’s premier airport a name that “reflects positivity and democracy,” in line with the country’s aspirations.