Anti-corruption advocate Vitus Azeem has urged the government to rename Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in honour of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, arguing that national monuments should reflect the country’s democratic values and foundational legacy.
In an interview with Citi News on Tuesday, July 16, Azeem said it was inappropriate for a major national landmark to bear the name of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kotoka, one of the military leaders behind the 1966 coup that overthrew Nkrumah’s government.
“We should be naming key national assets after individuals who made significant contributions to Ghana’s progress. That’s why I believe the airport should be renamed after Dr. Kwame Nkrumah,” Azeem asserted.
His call aligns with recent sentiments by Cardinal Peter Turkson, who also questioned why figures associated with the overthrow of democratically elected leaders continue to be publicly honoured.
Azeem emphasized that renaming the airport would be a meaningful and symbolic move that reaffirms Ghana’s commitment to its democratic foundations and pays tribute to Nkrumah’s enduring pan-African legacy.
“Dr. Nkrumah wasn’t just a national figure—he was a global icon who inspired liberation movements across the continent. Kenya and Tanzania have named their airports after Jomo Kenyatta and Julius Nyerere. Ghana should honour its founding father in a similar way,” he added.
He also noted that the renaming process could be straightforward if supported by Parliament and backed by strong political will.
Kotoka, who served as Commissioner for Health and General Officer Commanding of the Ghana Armed Forces, was part of the National Liberation Council after the 1966 coup. He was killed in a counter-coup attempt in 1967, after which the Ghana International Airport was renamed in his honour.
Mr. Azeem’s comments add to ongoing national conversations about how Ghana remembers its past and who should be honoured in its public institutions.
