Volta Regional Director of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC),Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, has criticised a proposed move by government to change the name of Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport, describing the plan as ill-timed and misplaced.

The proposal was disclosed by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga during a leadership media engagement ahead of the reopening of the second meeting of the Ninth Parliament on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Mr. Ayariga indicated that the initiative would be advanced through a bill to be laid in Parliament by the Minister for Transport.

Reacting in a statement issued on February 4, 2026, Dr. Apetorgbor rejected the idea, arguing that it does not reflect Ghana’s most pressing development needs and should be opposed in the broader national interest.

He maintained that naming major international airports after notable historical figures is a widely accepted global practice and has not hindered operational excellence or international competitiveness elsewhere. Drawing from his own travel exposure, he noted that several airports bearing the names of national icons continue to function efficiently and meet global standards.

Dr. Apetorgbor emphasised that the true value of an international airport lies in its operational strength, safety record, connectivity, affordability, and cargo-handling capacity, rather than its title. He questioned the rationale behind the proposal at a time when the country is grappling with tight public finances, rising debt levels, and mounting pressure on government spending.

He cautioned that changing the airport’s name would come with significant costs, including the use of parliamentary and administrative resources, as well as extensive rebranding across international aviation networks, logistics chains, and digital platforms.

According to him, Kotoka International Airport is already well established within global aviation systems, and maintaining continuity and certainty is crucial in the highly competitive air transport industry. He further argued that public trust in governance is strengthened when government decisions clearly align with urgent economic and development priorities.

Dr. Apetorgbor urged authorities to instead focus on practical reforms in the aviation sector that would yield measurable economic gains, such as reducing operational expenses, improving efficiency, expanding cargo and logistics infrastructure, and developing a coherent plan to position Accra as a leading aviation hub in West Africa.

He also called on Members of Parliament from the Volta Region, the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Volta-based diaspora groups, and citizens of the region both at home and abroad to collectively oppose the proposed renaming.