After more than five decades as Kotoka International Airport, Ghana’s main airport is officially back to its original name, Accra International Airport, Ghana.
Before it was named in honour of Lt Gen Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka in 1966, he was a coup leader who overthrew Kwame Nkurmah.
In a press release on Monday, Ghana’s Ministry of Transport described the move as a restoration of the airport’s “former and internationally recognised name”, Accra International Airport. 
Airline operations, ticketing systems, and international flight scheduling remain unaffected in Ghana. What will change, however, are the visible symbols: signage, official documents, digital platforms, and statutory instruments, all set to reflect the new-old identity.
But this isn’t new. Across Africa, airport names have often mirrored politics, independence movements, and regime changes. Several countries have renamed their major airports as a symbol of something deeper.
Here are some African countries that have done something similar:
1. South Africa
Originally known as Jan Smuts Airport, it was renamed Johannesburg International Airport in 1994 after the end of apartheid before being renamed O. R. Tambo International Airport in 2006 in honour of anti-apartheid leader Oliver Tambo.
2. Nigeria
Nigeria’s busiest airport, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, was originally known as Lagos International Airport.
It was renamed in honour of former Head of State Murtala Muhammed, who was assassinated in 1976. The change came during a period when naming national infrastructure after military leaders was common practice. A lot of other local airports in Nigeria have also been renamed across the years.
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3. Zimbabwe
Lusaka International Airport was renamed Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in 2011. The name change was in honour of Zambia’s founding president, Kenneth Kaunda.
5. Tanzania
Dar es Salaam International Airport became Julius Nyerere International Airport, named after founding president Julius Nyerere, in 2006. Like many similar decisions across the continent, the renaming reflected the importance of national identity and post-independence symbolism.
African countries changing their airport names often reflects a symbol of identity and also a recognition of past leaders who helped in shaping the growth of the country.
By reverting to Accra International Airport, Ghana signals how it wants its national symbols to be perceived.
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