The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has opposed the government’s plan to rename the Kotoka International Airport.
His comments follow an announcement by the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, that the government intends to change the name of Ghana’s international airport from Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Accra International Airport.
The announcement was made during a leadership media briefing ahead of the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. At the briefing, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, disclosed that the proposed change would be effected through legislation to be laid before Parliament by the Minister for Transport, Joseph Nikpe.
Reacting to the development in an interview with journalists, Mr Afenyo-Markin defended the current name of the airport and criticised the decision to rename it.
“All these years, we’ve had General Kotoka’s name on the airport, and suddenly it’s being changed. The name Kotoka International Airport, Accra, is already there, so you don’t need to remove Kotoka’s name,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned the rationale behind the move, arguing that the name represents one of the few national recognitions linked to the Volta Region.
“How many prominent Voltarians have their names on national assets or monuments? This is the only thing the people of Volta can also see as something that recognises heroism from the Volta Region, and they’re being denied,” he stated.
He added that successive governments had retained the name and accused current NDC leaders from the Volta Region of remaining silent on the issue.
He described the move as an indictment of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and urged key figures within the party, particularly those from the Volta Region, to oppose the proposal.
“Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey, Foreign Affairs Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor — they’re from Volta, they’re in government and are watching Volta lose its pride. It’s up to them,” he said.
