Airport renaming will not burden state – Transport Minister

The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has dismissed claims that the renaming of the country’s main international airport would impose huge costs on the state, describing such reports as inaccurate.

His remarks follow the government’s decision to officially revert Kotoka International Airport to its original designation, 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 its redesignation, and that it was appropriate to restore the airport to its former and internationally recognised name.

Addressing the media over concerns about potential costs on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Mr. Nikpe said international aviation codes 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 Organisation still maintains the country code DGAA, and the International Air Transport Association also kept the ACC code.

“So, there is nothing to change at the international level; the only things to change are the signage and the billboards. Even with that, the 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 added that ongoing renovation works at the airport would further minimise any additional expense.

“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 said.

The Minister maintained that the reversion to Accra International Airport would not impose any significant financial burden on the state.