The Bright Future Alliance (TBFA) has publicly supported the government of Ghana’s move to consider renaming Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport, describing the proposal as a step rooted in democratic values, historical truth, and national unity.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, February 5, TBFA said the decision goes beyond a symbolic change and reflects a deeper national reflection.

The group said the move represents “a reaffirmation of Ghana’s democratic values, a restoration of historical integrity, and a bold step toward nation-building rooted in truth, justice, and Pan-African consciousness”.

According to TBFA, Ghana’s decision fits into a wider continental shift, where African nations are reassessing colonial legacies, military rule, and historical narratives that no longer reflect democratic ideals.

The statement noted that countries across Africa are choosing to honour leadership that promoted constitutional governance, unity, and collective progress rather than moments that disrupted democracy.

TBFA stressed that national landmarks are powerful symbols and should reflect the values a country stands for.

“Public institutions and national monuments are not neutral. They are symbols of who we are as a people and what we choose to glorify,” the group said. It added that airports, as major international entry points, serve as a country’s first impression and should reflect the leadership that built the nation rather than actions that interrupted its democratic journey.

The group also grounded its support in Ghana’s constitutional framework. TBFA said maintaining a national monument named after a figure linked to a military coup contradicts the principles of the 1992 Constitution.

Citing Article 35(1), the group noted that Ghana is founded as a democratic state where sovereignty belongs to the people and where freedom and justice are central.

The statement referenced the Supreme Court’s ruling in New Patriotic Party v. Attorney-General (the 31st December Case), which held that celebrating military coups is inconsistent with the Constitution.

TBFA quoted the Court’s position that it is “incongruous” and “unlawful” to romanticise events that subverted constitutional rule. It further pointed to Article 3(3) of the Constitution, which classifies the violent overthrow of constitutional order as high treason.

TBFA warned that continuing to honour individuals associated with coups sends “wrong signals” to citizens and the security services, suggesting that undermining the will of the people can lead to national recognition.

The group said renaming the airport would be “a fulfilment of the state’s duty to protect the constitutional order ”.

Addressing the historical basis for the airport’s current name, TBFA argued that Emmanuel K. Kotoka’s name became attached to the airport mainly because he died at the site.

It said that beyond this circumstance, “no significant national development legacy, institutional reform, or transformational contribution was advanced as justification for immortalising his name”.

The statement recalled that Kotoka rose to prominence after the 1966 military coup that overthrew Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah. TBFA described Nkrumah as “a towering figure of African liberation” whose vision shaped modern Pan-Africanism and positioned Ghana as a symbol of African self-determination. It said the coup disrupted constitutional democracy and derailed major development programmes.

While acknowledging that Kotoka later held senior military positions, TBFA argued that roles arising from an unconstitutional change of government “cannot be equated with nation-building service deserving of perpetual national honour".

TBFA said it firmly believes that “traitorous disruptions of democratic governance should never be elevated above visionary leadership, constitutional order, and service to the people”. It added that national symbols should inspire patriotism, integrity, and progress and should teach history truthfully rather than normalise unconstitutional power seizures.

Although the group noted that renaming the airport after Kwame Nkrumah would have been “a profound act of historical restoration”, it said it fully supports the proposed name Accra International Airport.

According to TBFA, the name places national identity above individuals, strengthens unity, and reflects the capital city as Ghana’s political, economic, and cultural centre.

The group described the government’s decision as a sign of political maturity and moral leadership. It said the move shows Ghana’s readiness to confront its past honestly and align national symbols with democratic ideals.

“This reform sends a powerful continental message: the era of glorifying unconstitutional takeovers and military disruptions is over,” the statement said.