A segment of Ghanaians has voiced their opinions on the controversy surrounding the renaming of Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
Among those advocating for a change is Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The airport is named after Lt. General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, one of the alleged masterminds behind the 1966 coup that overthrew Dr. Nkrumah’s government.
Critics argue that Kotoka was a treasonous general and believe that naming the airport after him is an undeserved accolade.
Amid this controversy, we took to the streets to gather public opinion on the matter.
One respondent told GhanaWeb TV: “I feel like we have more important things to focus on other than name change and all that. So if the name change is going to have a major significance, as I said, then why not? If not, then I don’t think it’s necessary. Plus, if he’s part of the people who took out Nkrumah, I mean, it’s in the past. It doesn’t change anything. Whether we change the name or not, it doesn’t really have any effect right now. So I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Let’s just focus on more important and pressing issues,” he added.
Another said “Well, if the major rationale behind the change of the name is to actually say good stuff about Nkrumah, then why not? Because first of all, what we need to consider is between these two, which is Kotoka and Nkrumah, who is more popular? Who is more famous? Who has a good name?”
“And so I believe it’s sensible enough if we change the name to Nkrumah. Apart from Nkrumah, JJ Rawlings, John Evans, I even wish the current president would be named after Nkrumah. So I think it’s a good initiative.”
Watch the full video below:
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