NPP’s Ellen Ama Daaku Criticizes Government’s Plan to Rename Kotoka International Airport

Accra: New Patriotic Party (NPP) communicator, Ellen Ama Daaku, has openly criticized the government's plan to rename Ghana's main international airport. The current name, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), is set to be changed to Accra International Airport (AIA). According to Ghana Web, Daaku expressed that her party, when in power, would counter this move by renaming national monuments that are named after the late former president and founder of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Jerry John Rawlings. She emphasized that the next NPP government intends to rename any national edifice associated with Rawlings, citing his involvement in a coup similar to that of Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka. Daaku's statements, shared in a newscard by Angle FM, highlight her party's stance: "Next NPP administration will also remove Jerry Rawlings' name from any national monument named after him because he's also a coup maker." This comment reflects the contentious nature of naming national landmarks after controversial historical figures. The debate over the airport's name arises from its association with Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, who played a pivotal role in the coup that ousted Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. This historical context has fueled differing opinions on the renaming decision. Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, announced the government's intention to present a bill to Parliament, spearheaded by the Minister of Transport, to officially change the airport's name. The announcement, made during the first sitting of the Second Session of the 9th Parliament on February 3, 2026, has sparked public debate. Ayariga stated, "We are changing the name of our airport from Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport. A bill will be brought by the Minister for Transport to facilitate this change. The Accra International Airport bill will also come." The announcement has polarized public opinion, with some supporting the change, arguing that the airport should not honor someone who led a coup, while others see no necessity in the renaming.