Renaming of airport not with political intent — Minister of Transport

Renaming of Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport is without any political intentions, the Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has said.

He added that the bill for the renaming is expected to be passed before mid-year.

Mr Nikpe said this when he paid a working visit to the State Transport Corporation (STC) Head Office in Accra yesterday. He was accompanied by his Deputy, Dorcas Affo Toffey.

He stated that the move aims to reflect the airport's location in the capital city and restore its original name, which better represents Ghana's identity and history.
 

“Renaming the airport to Accra International Airport is of significant importance to the Ghanaian people, and for that matter, the African identity.”

“We are not doing this with any political thinking. We are doing this from a very neutral point of view, that Accra is our capital city. It does not bear anyone’s personal name,” he said.

He affirmed that the renaming of the facility would only return it to its original name, which is more marketable and advances the locational identity and history of the country, hence, the decision for the reversal to its original name.

“We have accepted that Accra is our capital city, marketed with rich culture, and locational identity, that everybody in this world, especially in the West African sub-region, knows that the struggle for independence had a lot to do with Accra,” he said. 

Background

The Minister narrated that the airport was put up by the British Royal Air Force in the period of the Second World War, around 1946, as an air force base to carry Ghanaian soldiers to war and other activities.

However, the facility was handed to the civilian regime in 1956, with then Prime Minister, Dr Kwame Nkrumah at the helm of affairs, who redeveloped, revamped and retooled the air force base into a civilian passenger airport and named it Accra International Airport.

A name, which, according to him, was strategic for the country, instead of having it named after someone for his role in a military coup.

“But the fact that we had a name, and it was changed to honour somebody in his role in the 1966 coup, we feel that that history is not what the Ghanaians would want to hear.”

“The fact that it had an original name, given by the first President, we should do that. Dr Kwame Nkrumah himself in his grave will remember, if his spirit is anywhere and it is coming home, it will get to his original Accra International Airport, not any other name,” he said.

Practices, Bill

The minister added that the renaming of the airport was also intended to align with practices in other countries that have given their capitals greater marketability advantages.

He cited the Nairobi International Airport and Addis Ababa International Airport, noting that their names are easily associated with their respective national capitals, particularly by travellers to and from those countries.

Mr Nikpe added that the renaming of the airport could be an honour to the memories of the forefathers of the nation.

“Accra International Airport is one of the legacies we believe will honour our forefathers who fought for independence and bequeathed to us this rich and respected nation,” he said.

He said the Ministry was not in a rush and would allow the bill to go through all the necessary processes when it is laid before Parliament.