The Communications Director of the United Party (UP), Solomon Owusu, has described the proposed renaming of Kotoka International Airport as “long overdue,” arguing that national landmarks should reflect values and personalities the country is proud to project to the world.

His comment comes after Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga revealed that the government plans to rename Kotoka International Airport as Accra International Airport.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, he said the naming of major national infrastructure carries deep symbolic meaning and often shapes how a country is perceived by visitors.

“It’s very simple. It’s long overdue,” he said. “I mean, names have a meaning. Anywhere I’ve been to in this world, the very thing that I do is to research about names that have been given to places.”

He cited examples from other African countries, noting how airports are named after individuals who represent national pride and historic struggles.

“So, you go to South Africa, you have O.R. Tambo Airport. Straight away, you have to find out who the Tambo is. And you see that he was someone who fought against apartheid. The nation recognises his efforts in that direction,” he explained.

Mr Owusu also referenced Nigeria, pointing to the symbolism behind its airport names.

“You go to Nigeria, you have Murtala Mohammed. They will tell you that Murtala Mohammed was a force to reckon with. He fought against military dictatorship and so on and so on. Nnamdi Azikiwe, it gives you an indication as to where the country was,” he added.

Turning his attention to Ghana, the UP Communications Director questioned the continued celebration of a figure associated primarily with the overthrow of the country’s first president.

“When we come to Ghana, our first point of call, and the name is Kotoka International Airport. Now, we have been priding ourselves—if you go to visit any major museum around the world, be it in the U.S. or so, one name that stands out for Africa and, for that matter, Ghana, is Dr Kwame Nkrumah,” he said.

Mr Owusu argued that the contradiction becomes clear when tourists research the name Kotoka.

“So, if the world recognises the importance of Dr Kwame Nkrumah in affairs of humanity, in affairs of governance, in affairs of politics, and we have been eulogising him, and you come to Ghana and the first name you hear is Kotoka, and someone who is a tourist goes to research about Kotoka, and the only achievement that he has is that he was successfully able to overthrow Kwame Nkrumah,” he stated.

He questioned the message that such a contradiction sends to the international community.

“Then, what sort of country are we? What are we preaching about? That in one breath, you see Nkrumah as your hero. In another breath, you see the one who overthrew him also as a hero. It does not work,” Mr Owusu said.

He added that the airport should have been renamed long ago, stressing his support for the current move.

“So, I believe that immediately, that name should have been off our radar long ago, and if they are doing it today, I have no problem,” he said.

He, however, noted that although the United Party has not formally met on the decision, he personally believes the renaming is justified but disagrees with the reasons being assigned to it.

“Well, the UP party, as a matter of fact, has not met Kotoka’s decision. From my point of view, I believe that it is worth it. Let me add that it is the reasons being assigned that I don’t like,” he noted.

He rejected arguments based purely on geography or ethnic considerations.

“That the land is for Accra, so it has to be Accra. No,” he said, recalling past controversies over the renaming of national facilities. “In the past, Ohene Gyan, I heard one of the communicators say that because we are in Ga land, it has to be Ga.”

Mr Owusu referred to the renaming of Accra’s first stadium, originally named after Ohene Djan, whom he described as a towering figure in Ghanaian sports.

“Ohene Gyan was a colossus when it came to Ghana football and sports. So, Accra’s first stadium was named after Ohene Gyan,” he said, adding that arguments based on locality eventually led to the reversal of that decision. “That was wrong.”

He concluded by calling for consistency and fairness in how Ghana honours its heroes.

“Let’s honour those that have contributed immensely, immensely to our body politic, and reward them as such,” Mr Owusu stressed.