A citizen of Ghana has petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent the government from renaming Kotoka International Airport, deeming the decision unconstitutional and “without legal effect.”
Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers initiated the lawsuit on March 13, 2026, invoking the original jurisdiction of the highest court.
In his legal filing, Brako-Powers contends that the Executive lacks the authority to rename the airport unilaterally without first amending or repealing the legislation that established its current name.
“Any Executive order that is purportedly issued to change the name of Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport…is null, void, and without legal effect,” Brako-Powers asserted in his lawsuit.
The case revolves around the General Kotoka Trust Decree of 1969 (NLCD 339), which legally establishes the airport’s name. Brako-Powers is requesting the court to affirm the decree as valid and binding until Parliament formally alters it through legislative action.
Michael Akosah from Adu-Gyamfi & Associates, who represents Brako-Powers, filed the writ in Kumasi. He stated that the government’s decision to rename the airport, announced as part of a broader rebranding initiative in the transport sector, violates Articles 11(1)(d) and 11(4) of the 1992 Constitution, which acknowledge existing laws and outline the procedures for their amendment. The lawsuit also references Paragraph 8(1)(a) of NLCD 339, which specifies the process for any changes to the airport’s designation.
The plaintiff seeks declarations and both interim and permanent injunctions to prevent the Ministry of Transport, its agents, or any authorized individuals from executing the new name. He argues that until NLCD 339 is “lawfully amended, repealed, or nullified,” no executive directive can supersede it.
Kotoka International Airport is named in honor of Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a significant figure in the 1966 coup that removed Dr. Kwame Nkrumah from power. Kotoka was killed a year later during an attempted counter-coup, and the airport was subsequently named to commemorate him.
The suggested renaming has ignited public discussion, with certain individuals questioning the need for such a change while others emphasize the historical importance of the current name.
Brako-Powers stated that he submitted the case in both personal and public interest, underscoring the necessity to uphold the 1992 Constitution as the highest law of Ghana. The lawsuit was submitted in accordance with Rule 45(1) of the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 (C.I. 16), and the Attorney-General is required to respond within fourteen days of being served.
