A private legal practitioner has taken Ghana’s airport renaming controversy to the Supreme Court, filing a writ seeking to reverse the government’s decision to drop the Kotoka name from the country’s main international gateway.
Austin Brako-Powers filed the writ arguing that the executive action stripping the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) name is unlawful, citing the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (National Liberation Council Decree 339) as the legal basis for his challenge. He is seeking a declaration that the decree, as existing law, remains binding and cannot be overridden without specific legislative repeal.
The government had maintained that the renaming of Accra International Airport to Kotoka International Airport was not backed by legislation, clearing the way for its reversion through executive action. Brako-Powers’ writ directly contests that position, arguing that National Liberation Council Decree 339, which enshrined the Kotoka name in law, has never been repealed and therefore retains legal force.
The Ministry of Transport announced the official name reversion on February 23, 2026, stating that the airport was being restored to its “former and internationally recognised name,” and assuring the public that the change would not affect airport operations, safety standards, or international travel arrangements.
New signage reflecting the change was unveiled at the main terminal on March 20, 2026, though the installation initially sparked public criticism after traces of the old lettering remained visible. Maintenance teams worked overnight to complete the repainting, and the airport’s name now appears clearly as Accra International Airport.
The legal challenge adds a new dimension to what has become one of Ghana’s most contentious public debates in recent memory. Critics of the move, including Kotoka’s family, have said it erases his legacy and service, while opponents questioned the cost and asked why issues such as unemployment and living conditions were not a higher government priority.
Brako-Powers is no stranger to high-profile legal commentary. He previously dismissed suggestions that the Supreme Court needed to intervene in the judicial review application filed by dismissed Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, arguing that the relevant constitutional provision was plain and unambiguous.
The writ is yet to be heard, and no date has been set for the case.
