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Rename Kotoka International Airport After Kwame Nkrumah – Vitus Azeem Urges Government
Anti-corruption campaigner Vitus Azeem is calling on the government to rename Ghana’s premier aviation gateway, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), after the country’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, citing the need to honour foundational figures of Ghana’s independence and democratic vision.
In an interview with Citi News on Tuesday, July 16, Azeem described the current naming of the airport after Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kotoka—a central figure in the 1966 military coup that ousted Nkrumah—as “historically and morally misplaced”.
“We need to name important state institutions and assets after people who have contributed significantly to Ghana’s development. That is why I suggest renaming the airport after Kwame Nkrumah,” he said.
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Azeem’s remarks echo increasing calls for a reassessment of how Ghana commemorates its past. His comments come in the wake of similar sentiments expressed by Cardinal Peter Turkson, who recently criticised the continued honouring of individuals associated with the dismantling of democratic governance.
He stressed that renaming the airport would not only be a symbolic act of historical justice but also align Ghana with other African nations that honour their independence heroes through key national assets.
“Nkrumah’s influence shaped not just Ghana but inspired liberation movements across Africa. We have countries like Kenya and Tanzania naming their international airports after leaders such as Jomo Kenyatta and Julius Nyerere, both of whom admired Nkrumah. Why should Ghana be any different?” Azeem asked.
He argued that the renaming process would require only a legislative adjustment—feasible with political will, especially under a majority in Parliament—and said the change would reflect a Ghana that values democratic legacy over militaristic interruptions.
Lt-Gen Emmanuel Kotoka led the 1966 coup that toppled Nkrumah’s government while the president was abroad on a diplomatic mission. After the coup, Kotoka became a senior figure in the ruling National Liberation Council (NLC), overseeing military affairs and serving briefly as commissioner for health. He was killed in 1967 during a failed counter-coup, and the Ghana International Airport was renamed in his honour shortly thereafter.
Azeem challenged Ghanaians to reconsider the message such commemorations send to future generations.
“How many Ghanaians today even recall the 1966 coup, except that it disrupted Nkrumah’s visionary development plans? This is a matter of historical justice,” he said.
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