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Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the lead convenor of Democracy Hub, has defended the group’s decision to file a lawsuit seeking the removal of “Kotoka” from the name of Ghana’s international airport. The legal action, filed on February 24, 2025, in collaboration with the Convention People’s Party (CPP), argues that retaining the name contradicts Ghana’s democratic values, as it honors Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a key figure in the 1966 coup that overthrew President Kwame Nkrumah.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Barker-Vormawor explained that the lawsuit is not an attempt to erase history but rather to ensure that Ghana’s national symbols reflect its commitment to democratic governance. He emphasized that history involves both naming and renaming, citing global examples such as Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay. According to him, if Kotoka’s name remains on the airport solely because of his role in the 1966 coup, it would be seen as an endorsement of unconstitutional rule, which is inconsistent with the principles of the 1992 Constitution.
However, the CPP has distanced itself from the lawsuit, stating that it had no prior knowledge of the legal action taken by Democracy Hub. Despite this, the debate over the appropriateness of Kotoka’s name on the airport continues to spark national discussion on how Ghana should honor its historical figures.
