Lawsuit seeks to remove Kotoka’s name from Accra International Airport

Accra, Ghana – The Democracy Hub, in collaboration with the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court, challenging the continued use of Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka’s name on Ghana’s main international airport.

The plaintiffs argue that honouring Kotoka, a key figure in Ghana’s first military coup in 1966, contradicts the country’s democratic principles and its constitutional rejection of coups d’état. They contend that keeping his name on the airport amounts to state-sanctioned glorification of unconstitutional rule.

“For 59 years, Ghana has condemned military takeovers, yet we continue to uphold the name of a man whose actions derailed the country’s democratic progress,” the Democracy Hub stated.

The lawsuit seeks to overturn the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (NLCD 339), which officially named the airport after the general. The plaintiffs insist that removing Kotoka’s name would send a strong message that Ghana stands firmly against military interventions, both in rhetoric and in practice.

The legal challenge, supported by a team of lawyers from Merton & Everett LLP, follows extensive archival research into the history of the 1966 coup and its impact on Ghana’s governance.

As the case moves forward, the Democracy Hub is rallying civil society organizations, activists, and citizens to support what they describe as a crucial step toward realigning Ghana’s historical narratives with its democratic values.

“This is not just about a name; it is about what Ghana chooses to honour and the message we send to future generations,” the group emphasized.