Liquid Wisdom: The Kotoka Airport Rename Debate – A Coup Reminder, Not Celebration.
Ghana deserves honest debate, not division. Ghana is at a crossroads once again. The proposal to rename Kotoka International Airport has sparked passionate discussion across the country.
As Liquid Wisdom, I see two clear sides to this issue, and both deserve a fair hearing. On one side, the name Kotoka International Airport honours General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, the Volta-born soldier who led the 1966 coup that removed Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah from power.
Some argue that keeping the name preserves history and recognises regional pride. I respect the desire to acknowledge Volta Region’s contributions, but let us be honest: the 1966 coup was not a moment of liberation. It marked the beginning of repeated military interventions that brought instability, economic setbacks, and years of democratic disruption to our nation.
The airport’s name is not an endorsement or celebration of coups. It serves as a quiet, permanent reminder of the cost of overthrowing constitutional order. Every time a plane lands or takes off, it whispers to us: “Remember the chaos. Never repeat it.” That reminder has value in a country that has fought hard to build stable, peaceful democracy.
Yet the other side carries equal weight – and this is where Liquid Wisdom stands firmly.
Ghana has evolved. We are now recognised as one of Africa’s strongest democracies, with peaceful power transitions and consistent elections. Clinging to a name tied to a coup era feels outdated and out of step with the progress we have made.
Renaming the airport is not about erasing history; it is about choosing symbols that reflect who we are today and where we are going tomorrow. If we decide to change the name, let us choose wisely and unite the nation in the process.
Liquid Wisdom proposes three strong, inclusive options:
1. Ghana International Airport – Simple, powerful, and truly national. It belongs to every Ghanaian, from every region.
2. Accra International Airport – Clear, modern, and aligned with global standards (think London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle). It puts our capital proudly on the world map.
3. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah International Airport – Honour the architect of modern Ghana: independence, infrastructure, education, and Pan-African vision. Nkrumah built the foundations we still stand on. That is the legacy worth flying under.
Whatever name we choose, the decision must come from broad consultation – chiefs, citizens, Voltarians, northerners, Ashantis, everyone. This is a national asset, not a political prize.
A Word on Hon. Afenyo-Markin’s Comments – I must address Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s statement in Parliament. He claimed that Kotoka’s name is “the only thing the people of Volta can see as something that recognises heroism from the Volta Region,” and suggested that renaming it would deny Voltarians pride.That statement is nonsense – and a gross insult to every proud Voltarian.
Volta Region has produced extraordinary Ghanaians: cultural giants like Ephraim Amu (composer of the national anthem), political figures who shaped our history, artists, educators, business leaders, and everyday heroes who build this country quietly every day. To reduce an entire region’s identity and pride to one coup leader is disrespectful and reductive. It is beneath the dignity of Volta’s people and beneath the standard we expect from national leaders.
Worse, framing the rename debate in regional terms risks turning a matter of national history into tribal politics. Ghana has come too far to allow that. We must reject any attempt to divide us along ethnic lines for short-term political gain.
Unity is our strength – not emotional blackmail.
This is Ghana’s moment to choose symbols that inspire progress, not division. Whether we keep Kotoka as a sober reminder of coups’ dangers or rename it to reflect our democratic maturity, let the conversation be honest, inclusive, and free of tribal traps.
Liquid Wisdom calls on every Ghanaian: speak up. Debate. Decide together.
Our airport – our gateway to the world – should carry a name that makes every citizen proud.
What do you think? Should we rename it? To Nkrumah? Accra? Ghana International? Or keep Kotoka? Share your views in the comments, share and repost on LinkedIn, and follow NSG News for more unfiltered Liquid Wisdom.
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Sources: Recent parliamentary statements (February 2026), public debates, historical records on the 1966 coup and Ghana’s democratic journey.
