The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has justified government’s decision to revert to Ghana’s international airport’s original name, Accra International Airport (AIA).
He says there was no basis for a new legislation or bill to be laid before Parliament before the name could be reverted.
The airport was originally called Accra International Airport, before it was renamed after one of Ghana’s coup plotters and Head of State, Gen. Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, therefore becoming Kotoka International Airport.
However, government has, since today, Tuesday, February 24, 2026, reverted the name to AIA by an executive order, without laying a legislation in Parliament as earlier communicated by the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga.
According to the Transport Minister, the 1969 National Liberation Council decree that established a Trust for Lt. Gen Kotoka, through which the airport was named after him, did not have a legislative instrument to operationalise that decision.
He explains that an executive order is enough to take such decisions, citing other airports that were named without any parliamentary action.
“It came as a result of the NLCD 309. It was a decree that was brought to set trust to cater for the family of Kotoka and other soldiers who were killed at that time and it happened that he was killed at the forecourt of the airport.
“So, if you look at the decree, its intention was to set a trust to take care of the families of the soldiers who were killed. And so if you look within it, they decided to honour him by renaming the airport after him,” the Transport Minister said at briefing to the media on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
Background
Government has officially reverted the name of Kotoka International Airport to its former designation, Accra International Airport. This was announced by the Ministry of Transport.
In a press release issued on Monday, February 23, 2026, the Ministry said the decision restores the facility to its “former and internationally recognised name”, noting that the airport was originally known as Accra International Airport before it was redesignated.
According to the statement, the renaming will not affect Airport’s operations, safety standards or international travel arrangements.
The Ministry emphasised that within the records of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the airport code has remained “ACC”, underscoring continuity in global aviation systems.
The Ministry explained that implementation of the reversion will involve a “systematic update of official documentation, statutory instruments where necessary, airport signage, digital platforms, aviation publications, and related communication materials.”
It called on the general public, stakeholders and international partners to support and cooperate with the relevant authorities to ensure what it described as a “smooth and seamless transition.”
The statement, issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Transport, expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation of all stakeholders.
