Supreme Court Orders Attorney-General to Respond in KIA Renaming Case

The Supreme Court of Ghana has ordered the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to file a response within seven days in a case challenging the reported renaming of Kotoka International Airport.

The directive was issued on Thursday, May 14, 2026, after the court considered a request by the Attorney-General for additional time to submit a statement of case in the suit brought by lawyer and policy analyst Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers.

Brako-Powers filed the case in March 2026, arguing that any attempt to rename the airport was not carried out in accordance with the law, particularly the General Kotoka Trust Decree of 1969.

According to the plaintiff, changing the official name of the airport requires a formal amendment or repeal of the existing legislation and cannot be done through an executive announcement or administrative directive alone.

The legal challenge focuses on the constitutional and legal procedures governing the renaming of state assets, including whether parliamentary approval is required.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Michael Akosah, stated that any move to alter the airport’s name must strictly follow constitutional and statutory processes.

Lawyers representing the state requested more time to address the substantive legal issues raised in the case, and although the Supreme Court granted the extension, it emphasized the need for a speedy hearing.

The court therefore directed the Attorney-General to submit its response within seven days to avoid unnecessary delays.

The Attorney-General is expected to clarify whether the executive or any state institution has the authority to rename national landmarks without parliamentary approval.

Legal observers say the case could have broader implications for governance, executive authority and the management of public assets in Ghana.