Ghana has once again been gripped by debate over the potential renaming of Kotoka International Airport, named after General Emmanuel Kotoka, who was killed during an abortive coup in 1967.
Arthur Kobina Kennedy, writing on February 6, 2026, urged caution, noting that renaming public monuments and institutions can be a “calculated distraction” that does little to improve the lives of citizens and risks causing divisions along ethnic and partisan lines.
Kennedy recalled past controversies over the renaming of Ghanaian landmarks, including the back-and-forth changes between Flagstaff House and Jubilee House, and the near-renaming of the University of Ghana to J.B. Danquah University.
He cited international examples, such as the debate over confederate monuments in the United States, where historians and policymakers ultimately opted to explain monuments rather than remove them, arguing that history should not be erased.
“Where will this renaming targeting coup-makers end? Is it targeting all coup-makers or just some? We cannot remove names and rewrite history,” Kennedy wrote, drawing comparisons to controversial historical figures like the namesakes of the Rhodes Scholarship and the Nobel Prize, whose legacies remain despite their complex histories.
Kennedy also highlighted the practical implications of renaming the airport, noting that the cost could be better used to address urgent national needs, such as education and healthcare.
He called on Parliament to develop a formal law to regulate the naming of public landmarks and the awarding of national honours, ensuring consistency across different governments and eras.
“Leave Kotoka International Airport alone. Long live Ghana,” Kennedy concluded.
