Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has described the government’s plan to rename Kotoka International Airport (KIA) as an indictment on the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing the party of undermining historical recognition and regional pride.

Speaking to the media in Parliament on Tuesday, February 3, Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned the rationale behind the proposed renaming, insisting that the current name already reflects the capital city while preserving historical identity.

“All these years we’ve had General Kotoka’s name on the airport, and suddenly it’s been changed. What is it?” he asked.

“After all, the name is Kotoka International Airport, comma Accra. Accra is already there, so there is no need to remove Kotoka’s name.”

According to the Minority Leader, the move unfairly targets one of the few national assets that recognises a prominent figure from the Volta Region, arguing that successive governments have retained the name without controversy.

“If you come to Accra or even across the country, how many prominent Voltarians have their names on national assets or monuments?” he queried.

“This is the only thing the people of the Volta Region can point to as recognising heroism from the area, and even that is being taken away.”

Mr Afenyo-Markin also took issue with what he described as the silence of key government officials from the Volta Region, saying they bear responsibility for allowing the proposed change to proceed.

He mentioned figures including Kwame Agbodza, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Fifi Kwetey, Bernard Ahiafor and Governs Kwame Agbodza, arguing that their presence in government makes the decision even more troubling.

• Read also: ‘We can’t continue to name our premier international gateway after those who overthrew Nkrumah’ – Armah-Kofi Buah

“They are all sitting down watching the government take away a Voltarian’s name, which has been given to our airport. At this time and age, they are in government and watching the Volta Region lose its pride. It is up to them,” he said.

Mr Afenyo-Markin’s comments follow an announcement by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga that the government plans to rename Kotoka International Airport as Accra International Airport.

Mr Ayariga made this known while addressing journalists ahead of the first sitting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, explaining that the decision forms part of broader efforts to reflect Ghana’s democratic values and national identity in public institutions.