Former Trade and Industry Minister, K.T. Hammond, has waded into the heated debate over calls to rename Kotoka International Airport, daring the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to dissolve itself if it genuinely rejects military coups.
Speaking on the renewed controversy surrounding the airport’s name, Hammond argued that the NDC’s position is inconsistent with Ghana’s political history. He maintained that the party cannot credibly campaign against coups while distancing itself from the legacy of the late Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, whose rise to power followed a military takeover.
According to Hammond, any serious attempt to erase the memory of coups from Ghana’s national symbols must begin with a frank reckoning by political actors who benefited from, or were shaped by, military interventions in governance. He stressed that Dr Kwame Nkrumah International Airport was renamed in honour of General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong—later changed to Kotoka International Airport—to reflect a specific historical period that cannot simply be wished away.
The former minister accused the NDC of selectively condemning coups while celebrating figures linked to military rule, describing the posture as politically expedient rather than principled. He insisted that Ghana’s democracy is best strengthened by confronting its full history, not by renaming landmarks to score political points.
Hammond’s comments come amid growing public and political debate over whether national monuments and institutions should continue to bear the names of military leaders associated with unconstitutional changes of government. While supporters of renaming argue it aligns with democratic values, critics counter that history—however uncomfortable—should be preserved as a reminder of the nation’s past.
The latest remarks are expected to further intensify the conversation, with both major parties facing pressure to clearly articulate their positions on how Ghana should remember its coup-era history while safeguarding its democratic future.
