Former President Nana Akufo-Addo has been criticised following revelations that he dismissed a proposal to rename Kotoka International Airport after former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, despite arguments that the change could have boosted Ghana’s global image.
According to former Board Chairman of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Paul Adom-Otchere, the idea was formally presented to Akufo-Addo during his presidency but failed to gain approval. The proposal, which emerged from internal GACL discussions, sought to align Ghana’s main international gateway with global branding standards by honouring one of the country’s most internationally recognised figures.
However, Akufo-Addo reportedly brushed aside the idea, questioning the relevance of renaming the airport while several regional airport projects remained incomplete.
“You want to go and change the name of the airport — for what?” Mr Adom-Otchere quoted the former President as saying, pointing to stalled or unfinished airport developments in Kumasi, Sunyani and Tamale at the time.
Critics argue that Akufo-Addo’s stance reflected a narrow view of national development, overlooking the symbolic and diplomatic value of global branding in international aviation. Supporters of the proposal maintain that honouring Kofi Annan would have projected Ghana’s soft power more effectively than retaining a name linked to a controversial military figure.
The disclosure has reignited debate over Akufo-Addo’s legacy and decision-making priorities, particularly in areas where symbolism, history and international perception intersect.
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