Political scientist and lecturer, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, has described the proposed renaming of Kotoka International Airport as long overdue, arguing that the historical context surrounding the name makes the debate both necessary and timely.
Speaking on the matter on TV3’s Ghana Tonight, Tuesday, Dr. Asah-Asante noted that the events linked to the late Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka represent a painful chapter in Ghana’s political history, which continues to evoke strong emotions among sections of the population.
“I think that it is long overdue because if you look at the story behind all these things, it is a very painful story. That is the place that Kotoka was killed and all that,” he said, suggesting that the airport’s current name is deeply tied to worrying historical memories.
According to him, the decision to rename the airport must be accompanied by a broader national reflection on how Kotoka’s legacy should be preserved and contextualised.
He stressed that Ghana must deliberately identify an appropriate way to honour Kotoka.
“So, if you want to change it then in my mind you are going to rest that story and then later you find proper place for Kotoka in terms of how you want to place him and the monument you want to place for him,” he added.
Dr. Asah-Asante further expressed support for renaming the facility Accra International Airport, describing the proposal as reasonable and consistent with prevailing public views.
“I believe that naming it Accra International Airport is okay and that it is in line with a lot of views about that in this country,” he stated.
He continued: “I believe that the country has moved on since 1966 and that we don’t want to renew old books and so we don’t want to go into the nitty-gritties of all there is to that story but that the state at a point in time has decided that let us end it this way by taking his name off and then put on it the name of the seat, I think it is fine.”
Kotoka International Airport to be renamed Accra International Airport
