The renewed push to rename Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has reignited a broader national conversation about how Ghana presents itself to the world, particularly at a time when tourism and leisure are becoming increasingly central to the country’s economic and cultural diplomacy.
Speaking at the launch of an advocacy campaign in Accra, concerned citizen Steven Odarteifio argued that Ghana’s main international gateway is more than transport infrastructure. Rather, it is the country’s first point of contact with millions of visitors each year and a powerful symbol that shapes global perception. An airport, he noted, is “the nation’s handshake” and the first narrative Ghana offers to the world.
KIA handles millions of passengers annually, many of whom arrive during peak festive seasons such as December in GH, when Ghana positions itself as a heritage and leisure destination for Africans in the diaspora. For these travellers, the airport’s name appears repeatedly from booking confirmations and boarding passes to screens in major global hubs, embedding a narrative long before arrival.
Mr. Odarteifio questioned whether that narrative aligns with Ghana’s tourism branding, which draws heavily on independence, Pan-Africanism and cultural pride. He argued that visitors motivated by Ghana’s independence story are often welcomed through a gateway named after a figure associated with a period of political overthrow, creating a disconnect between the country’s historical appeal and the symbolism at its front door.
Tourism experts have long observed that destinations increasingly compete not only on attractions but also on identity and storytelling. In this context, the airport’s name becomes part of Ghana’s intangible tourism assets, shaping perceptions before visitors experience its hospitality, heritage sites or creative industries.
Mr. Odarteifio pointed to regional examples where international airports are named after independence leaders whose legacies reinforce national identity and global recognition, arguing that such symbolism strengthens destination branding and emotional connection with visitors.
The contradiction, he said, is particularly striking for diaspora tourists who travel to Ghana seeking the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the ideals of Pan-African unity, yet arrive through a gateway that does not reflect that narrative. While Ghana must preserve and teach all aspects of its history, he argued that national symbols at major entry points should promote unity, pride and values that enhance the visitor experience.
Beyond history and politics, the debate carries direct implications for Ghana’s tourism and leisure strategy. The country has invested significantly in positioning itself as a cultural and heritage hub, leveraging festivals, arts, creative industries and diaspora engagement to drive visitor numbers and spending.
Aligning national symbols with this strategy, Mr. Odarteifio argued, would strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness in an increasingly crowded tourism market, where authenticity and narrative coherence influence travel decisions as much as infrastructure and services.
As Ghana continues to market itself as a welcoming home for Africans and global travellers, the discussion around the name of its international gateway is evolving into more than a historical debate.
It is increasingly being framed as a test of how deliberately the country curates its identity at the intersection of tourism, leisure and national storytelling.
