Renaming KIA: CPP’s Osei Kofi Acquah backs Parliament’s plan, calls opposition “awkward”
The National Communications Director of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Osei Kofi Acquah, has waded into the national debate over Parliament’s plan to rename Kotoka International Airport, describing the widespread resistance as very awkward.
According to him, the current name projects the legacy of military coups over the history of Ghana’s democracy and should therefore be changed.
During an appearance on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, February 4, Osei Kofi Acquah argued that the airport’s name tells “an uncomfortable story about Ghana to the outside world,” particularly because it honours Lt-Gen Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a key figure in the 1966 coup that overthrew Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“I have gone to certain places where when I’m returning home on my ticket I see Kotoka International Airport and I ask myself does this man deserve to be on this ticket? That’s because if anybody should ask me where I am going or asks what the name of my final airport is and I’m tempted to mention Kotoka International Airport and he says who is this Kotoka? What am I going to say? The man who introduced coup d’état into the West African sub region. Is that what I’m going to say?” he questioned.
He further argued that support for keeping the current name is inconsistent with democratic growth, especially when it comes from people he believes should defend constitutional rule.
“So, I find it very awkward that academicians, people who are supposed to be patriots, people who are so supposed to love democracy and want it sustained will champion the argument to have the name maintained. To what end? What are we trying to teach the younger folks?” he expressed.
His comment comes after Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga revealed on Tuesday that the government plans to rename Kotoka International Airport as Accra International Airport, an announcement which has since spark a nationwide debate.
While some parts of the citizenry believe that a change of name of long overdue, others have criticized the move as a misplaced priority.
CEO of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Kofi Kapito condemned the move on Wednesday, calling it a “wasteful distraction from more pressing issues affecting Ghanaians,” arguing that the current Majority Caucus “seems to have forgotten” about the need to prioritize critical legislations such as the long-stalled Consumer Protection Bill over “unnecessary decisions” such as airport renaming.
“It’s a non-starter, just like when Flagstaff House was named Jubilee House. Now it’s now going back to Flagstaff House to Jubilee House. Look, it’s the taxpayer that suffers. We are wasting money,” Kapito stated. “Jubilee House, Flagstaff House, Kotoka International, Accra International – that is not what is important to me now as a city, as a Ghanaian.”
“I’m very, very upset at Mahama Ayariga that he’s not even proposing the passage of the consumer bill, something that will give you, the consumer, the right of protection where people are taking advantage of us. Foreigners, including our own Ghanaians, are doing it. And you’re not interested. You are interested in renaming an airport. What? Kotoka did a coup. So what? Rawlings also did a coup. Actually, he did it twice,” Kapito said.
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