Citizen Files Supreme Court Case Over Kotoka Airport Renaming
Lawsuit argues Executive lacks authority to change name without parliamentary approval
- Citizen files Supreme Court case to block renaming of Kotoka International Airport
- Suit argues only Parliament can change the airport’s legally established name
- Plaintiff seeks injunction to stop implementation of proposed renaming
A Ghanaian citizen has filed a case at the Supreme Court seeking to halt the government’s proposed renaming of Kotoka International Airport, describing the move as unconstitutional and legally invalid.
Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, who filed the suit on March 13, 2026, is invoking the court’s original jurisdiction to contest the decision.
In his filing, Brako-Powers contends that the Executive cannot unilaterally rename the airport without first amending or repealing the law that established its current name. He maintains that any directive attempting to change the name to Accra International Airport would be “null and void” without proper legal backing.
The case hinges on the General Kotoka Trust Decree of 1969 (NLCD 339), which legally закрепs the airport’s name. The plaintiff is asking the court to affirm that the law remains valid and enforceable until Parliament officially amends it.
Lawyer Michael Akosah of Adu-Gyamfi & Associates, representing Brako-Powers, argued that the government’s plan—announced as part of a broader transport sector rebranding—violates provisions of the 1992 Constitution, particularly Articles 11(1)(d) and 11(4), which govern the recognition and amendment of existing laws.
The suit also references provisions within NLCD 339 that outline the proper process for altering the airport’s designation.
Brako-Powers is seeking both interim and perpetual injunctions to restrain the Ministry of Transport and its agents from implementing the proposed name change. He insists that until the existing law is lawfully amended, repealed, or nullified, no executive action can override it.
Kotoka International Airport is named after Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a central figure in the 1966 coup that removed Dr. Kwame Nkrumah from power. His legacy continues to spark debate, with the proposed renaming reigniting public discussion about history, national identity, and governance.
The plaintiff says the case is filed in both personal and public interest, stressing the need to uphold the Constitution as Ghana’s supreme law. The Attorney-General has fourteen days from service to respond to the suit.
