The Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Kapito, has criticised plans to rename Kotoka International Airport, arguing that the focus should instead be on urgent issues affecting the everyday lives of Ghanaians.
His comments follow an announcement by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga that the government intends to rename Kotoka International Airport as Accra International Airport.
Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show on February 4, Mr Kapito said the repeated renaming of national landmarks places an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers without addressing more pressing national concerns. He questioned the relevance of such initiatives at a time when consumer rights remain inadequately protected under Ghana’s legal framework.
Mr Kapito urged the media and Parliament to focus attention on the long-delayed Consumer Protection Bill, stressing that its passage would safeguard the rights of all Ghanaians.
He expressed strong disappointment with Parliament’s failure to prioritise the bill, directing particular criticism at Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga for not championing its passage.
Touching on arguments related to Ghana’s military history often raised in the renaming debate, Mr Kapito said such discussions are misplaced. He noted that coups form part of the country’s historical narrative and should not distract from more enduring challenges confronting citizens today.
Mr Kapito warned that renaming Kotoka International Airport would impose significant costs on the state, citing the extensive changes that would be required across official documents, infrastructure, and branding.
He also drew attention to deteriorating conditions in major public hospitals, which he said should be of greater concern to lawmakers. Citing findings from his investigations, he alleged that patients in some facilities are being charged fees to use basic amenities such as toilets, including maternity wards.
According to him, such practices undermine the dignity of patients and reflect broader failures in public service delivery.
Expressing his frustration as a citizen, Mr Kapito said Ghanaians deserve meaningful protections and improved living conditions, not symbolic gestures.
While distancing himself from partisan politics, he acknowledged recent economic improvements, including easing inflation, falling fuel prices, and a stronger cedi, noting that positive policies should be recognised regardless of which political party introduces them.
He cited examples of beneficial initiatives implemented by successive governments and called on Ghanaians to rise above partisan divisions in the interest of national development.
“We need to think as Ghanaians first and not allow party politics to divide us,” he urged.
