Ellen Ama Daaku, an aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has threatened that the next New Patriotic Party (NPP) government will also remove the late Jerry John Rawlings name from any national monument.
According to Ellen Ama Daaku, the argument being used to change the Kotoka International Airport is that General Kotoka was a coup maker, arguing that the late Jerry John Rawlings was also a coup maker.
Speaking on Angel, Ellen Ama Daaku stated, “Next NPP administration, will also remove Jerry Rawlings’ name from any national monument name after him because he’s also a coup maker”.
Ellen Ama Daaku’s comments have since sparked a debate on social media, with netizens saying, “JJ refused to be named after a university he built with his own money. These are people who have to be celebrated. His coup saved Ghana from the hands of the parents of the people who are currently on the run, dodging accountability.”
“People fought for democracy in Ghana, and it cannot be that JJ willingly gave up power.lt is out of pressure. Rawlings, who had said that he did not believe in the ballot box, how can he restore democracy? He and his cronies got protection under the Constitution”, a netizen added.
“JJ Rawlings is also the father of the 4th republic, the genesis of the very democracy the NPP is relying on to form the next govt.Maybe we should also remove that one and see who will be better off”, one more Ghanaian added.
A Ghanaian added, ““JJ’s legacy goes beyond a coup! This republic we have built post 1992 is all thanks to JJ. Imagine if he refused to hand over power in 2000. We all won’t be seated here listening to career politicians.
We’ve seen it happen too many times on this continent!!!”.
Meanwhile, 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”.
See the post below:
Fair? pic.twitter.com/PSgJXU2rNh
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) February 4, 2026