Some residents of Kumasi have welcomed the renaming of the yet-to-be-commissioned and first International Airport in the Ashanti region.

They are of the view renaming the Kumasi International Airport after the late Asante King, Nana Agyeman Prempeh I, is worthwhile due to his sacrifices to the Asante kingdom.

President Akufo-Addo whilst delivering his penultimate State of Nation Address to Parliament revealed the airport will be named after Nana Agyeman Prempeh I.

Some residents of Kumasi who spoke to JoyNews expressed delight in dedicating one of the prominent state infrastructure to the 13th Asante monarch.

• Read also: Kumasi International Airport to be named after Nana Agyeman Prempeh I

“We don’t have a problem with the name because he once ruled as the king in the Asante kingdom and since the airport is also located in this same region we are delighted about it,” one of the residents said.

Nana Agyeman Prempeh I was enstooled as Asantehene in March 1888 with the stool name Nana Kwaku Duah III. The name was later changed to Prempeh I.

Nana Agyeman Prempeh I fought the British in 1900 and was captured and sent to exile.

During his reign he won two battles over the British and was moved to the Seychelles Island with his family and 50 others.

After being held captive for 28 years, Sir Prempeh was released to return to Kumasi in 1924 through a special agreement with British authorities, allowing him to return as a regular individual.

Nana Prempeh passed away on May 12, and his successor, Prempeh II, took over as the Asantehene in 1931.

The international airport is expected to start functioning from May, 2024. But the citizens are hoping for an early start of operations to ease the stress of traveling to Accra to catch international flights.

“We're thrilled with the new international airport project as it'll spare us the time and hassle of traveling to Accra for international flights,” said Kwabena, a resident.