The activist group Democracy Hub and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) are pushing for the removal of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka’s name from the country’s main international airport.
The move has reignited national discussions over the legacy of the 1966 coup that ousted Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah.
Kotoka, a central figure in the coup that ended Nkrumah's government, is a controversial character in Ghanaian history. The lawsuit argues that naming the airport after him is incompatible with Ghana’s democratic principles, particularly the values outlined in the 1992 constitution. According to Democracy Hub and the CPP, Kotoka's association with a military coup stands in stark contrast to the democratic ideals that the nation has embraced since the return to civilian rule in 1992.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Senior Partner at Merton & Everett LLP, a law firm supporting the case, explained that the legal challenge is an attempt to address the complex issue of how Ghana remembers its past. “This lawsuit is not just about renaming the airport but about engaging in a broader conversation about the historical events that have shaped our country,” he said. Barker-Vormawor further pointed out that the current constitution prohibits the glorification of individuals who played a role in undermining constitutional governance, as evidenced by a 1993 Supreme Court ruling that stopped the government from celebrating the coup that overthrew Nkrumah.
The legal action, which was officially filed on February 24, 2025, marking the 59th anniversary of Nkrumah's overthrow, has generated significant public attention. While the debate surrounding the airport’s name has been ongoing for decades, Barker-Vormawor noted that the political climate now presents a more favourable environment for this legal challenge. He argued that recent political shifts, particularly a government more open to reexamining Ghana’s historical narratives, have given momentum to efforts like this one.
When asked whether prior attempts had been made to engage the government on this issue, Barker-Vormawor referred to the CPP’s long-standing advocacy for a review of Ghana's political history, including the return of assets seized after the coup. However, he acknowledged that efforts to change the airport’s name through legislation had not gained sufficient support in parliament, prompting the decision to pursue legal action instead.
The lawsuit has sparked widespread debate across the country. Supporters argue that renaming the airport would be a significant step towards reckoning with Ghana’s past, while critics contend that the focus should remain on more pressing issues, such as economic development. Barker-Vormawor, however, believes that revisiting historical events is essential for national unity and that addressing such issues is just as important as tackling economic challenges.
--ChannelAfrica--
