Accra International Airport: A national symbol beyond individual legacy

Recent public discussions about renaming Ghana’s main international airport have generated passionate debate.

Some see it as unnecessary; others consider it overdue. My position is simple and grounded in national interest: a national airport should project the identity of the nation rather than the legacy of a single individual.

An airport is not merely infrastructure. It is often the first physical and symbolic contact visitors have with a country. Diplomats, investors, tourists, scholars, and members of the diaspora encounter Ghana first through this gateway.

The name attached to that gateway should therefore reflect collective national identity rather than historical controversy.

Interestingly, when one purchases an airline ticket, the airport is identified globally as “ACC” — the international aviation code for Accra.

Airlines, travel platforms, logistics systems, and global aviation networks already recognize the facility primarily through the capital city, not an individual’s name.

From an international branding perspective, “Kotoka” does not function as Ghana’s recognizable global identity marker — Accra does.

Using “Accra International Airport” would therefore:

• Enhance global clarity and recognition.

• Strengthen Ghana’s national branding.

• Reduce unnecessary political or historical tensions.

• Reinforce the airport as a shared national asset.

This is not about erasing history. History should be taught, studied, debated, and understood in appropriate academic and civic contexts. But national infrastructure should unite citizens rather than reopen ideological divides.

Globally, most major airports carry city or geographic names precisely for this reason.

It emphasizes national identity, promotes tourism visibility, and supports economic diplomacy.

Ghana today faces far more pressing developmental challenges — economic transformation, youth employment, technological advancement, institutional strengthening. Yet symbolism still matters. Symbols shape perception, and perception influences investment, tourism, and national pride.

Renaming the airport to Accra International Airport would send a simple but powerful message:

Ghana stands above personalities. Ghana belongs to all its citizens.

Our national symbols should reflect unity, dignity, and forward-looking confidence.

Isaac Yaw Asiedu PhD

Author: Shifting Mindsets for Sustainable Development in Africa: Political Economy Perspective

Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK 2025

https://rethinkingafrica.org

https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-0364-6339-7