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The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has dismissed claims that the government’s decision to rename Kotoka International Airport will impose significant costs on the state, describing such reports as inaccurate and misleading.
His remarks follow the government’s move to officially revert the airport to its original name, Accra International Airport.
In a statement issued on Monday, February 23, the Ministry of Transport explained that the facility was previously known as Accra International Airport before it was redesignated. The Ministry said restoring the airport’s former and internationally recognised name was both appropriate and justified.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Mr. Nikpe sought to allay public concerns about potential financial implications, stressing that key international aviation identifiers remain unchanged.
“The good news for us is that all these organisations that control aviation in Ghana, since the name change from Accra to Kotoka, have not changed the country code. The International Civil Aviation Organization still maintains the country code DGAA, and the International Air Transport Association also kept the ACC code,” he said.
According to the Minister, because the international aviation codes remain intact, there will be no need for adjustments at the global level. He explained that the changes will largely be limited to signage, billboards, and official stationery.
“There is nothing to change at the international level; the only things to change are the signage and the billboards. Even with that, KIA, as a company, already has vendors who produce its letterheads for it on a daily basis.
“So, it is not a new contract. It is just a matter of Kotoka now being changed to Accra. The same vendors who produce their stamps and letterheads are the same company that now changes them. So, what will be the cost there?” he questioned.
Mr. Nikpe further indicated that ongoing renovation and redevelopment works at the airport would help minimise additional expenses.
“We are already renovating the airport and redeveloping some parts to make it function properly, so the signage would have been destroyed anyway. The new signage will carry the new name. So, even though there will be some cost, it is not a cost that we should care much about,” he stated.
The Minister maintained that reverting to Accra International Airport would not impose any significant financial burden on the state, assuring the public that the process would be managed within existing operational frameworks.