The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has opposed the government’s plan to rename the Kotoka International Airport to the Accra International Airport.
Afenyo-Markin described the move to rename Kotoka International Airport as an indictment on the NDC.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Mr Afenyo-Markin defended the current name of the airport and criticised the decision to rename it, adding that the name Kotoka International Airport already has Accra in it.
Afenyo-Markin explained, “All these years, we’ve had General Kotoka’s name on the airport, and suddenly it’s being changed. The name Kotoka International Airport, Accra, is already there, so you don’t need to remove Kotoka’s name”.
The Minority leader asserted that successive governments had retained the name and fired NDC leaders and MP’s from the Volta Region for remaining silent on the issue.
He added, “How many prominent Voltarians have their names on national assets or monuments? This is the only thing the people of Volta can also see as something that recognises heroism from the Volta Region, and they’re being denied”.
“Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey, Foreign Affairs Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor — they’re from Volta, they’re in government and are watching Volta lose its pride. It’s up to them,” he said.
However, Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has expressed support for the government’s decision to rename the Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah described the move as a good idea and a step in the right direction.
Speaking to the media when quizzed on the development, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah stated, “I think it is a good idea, and I will support it. I think that it should be the Accra International Airport. I will support it”.
The comments follow the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, who announced plans to rename Ghana’s international airport from Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Accra International Airport.
According to the majority leader, the change would be effected through legislation to be laid before Parliament by the Minister for Transport.
Speaking during a leadership media briefing ahead of the resumption of the Ninth Parliament on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Mahama Ayariga detailed, “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 for the name to be changed”.
“The Minister for Transport will bring the Maritime Offences Bill and the Road Traffic Bill to deal with the legalisation of okada riding and their operations. He will also bring the Ghana Shippers Council Regulation Bill,” the Majority Leader said.
The Mahama government announcement through the Majority leader follows years of calls by sections of the public and civil society groups.
Some Ghanaians and civil groups argue that the current name does not reflect Ghana’s democratic values, arguing that it honours General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, one of the key figures involved in the 1966 coup that overthrew the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
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Afenyo-Markin describes move to rename Kotoka International Airport as an indictment on the NDC, calls on the party's support base to oppose the move.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/4O4l9jCSAF
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) February 3, 2026