Renaming Kotoka Airport Will Not Boost Economy – Governance Expert
A Governance Expert, Kwaku Owusu Antwi, has questioned the relevance of plans to rename Kotoka International Airport, arguing that such a move would not contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s economic development or nation-building efforts.
In an interview with Opemsuo Radio’s Kofi Boakye on Nkwantannanso, Mr. Antwi described the renaming debate as misplaced, insisting that national attention should rather be focused on critical developmental challenges.
According to him, Ghana already has several national monuments and institutions named after Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and the Nkrumah Circle.
“The airport is already there. If we want to honour Kwame Nkrumah further, why not build a new airport and name it after him? Renaming existing infrastructure will not change the economy,” he stated.
Mr. Antwi argued that symbolic name changes do not translate into tangible economic gains, questioning whether altering the airport’s name would increase Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or improve the livelihoods of citizens.
He further expressed concern over what he described as a pattern of successive governments renaming national assets, citing past changes such as the Flagstaff House and Jubilee House.
“We keep renaming and repainting existing structures while more pressing issues remain unresolved,” he said.
The governance expert stressed that Ghana’s democratic discourse should focus on substantive development issues, including education and infrastructure, rather than symbolic debates.
He noted that while history is important and serves as a guide, it should not become a source of division.
“Renaming Kotoka will not significantly contribute to nation-building. We should concentrate on policies that strengthen the economy and unify the country,” he added.
Mr. Antwi cautioned that continued political debates over names risk deepening divisions among citizens and distracting leaders from addressing urgent national priorities.
He called on policymakers to prioritise development-driven decisions that promote unity and economic progress over symbolic actions that, in his view, offer limited national benefit.
