In a bold legal move, Democracy Hub, a political pressure group, has joined forces with the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to file a lawsuit at the Supreme Court of Ghana, seeking the removal of Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka’s name from Accra International Airport.
This legal action, announced in a statement released by Democracy Hub, is aimed at rectifying what the group describes as a historical injustice and reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to democratic governance.
According to Democracy Hub, the 1992 Constitution of Ghana firmly denounces coups d’état and upholds the duty of every citizen to defend democracy against military interventions.
However, the group argued that the country has, for nearly six decades, paradoxically denounced unconstitutional rule while simultaneously honoring one of its key architects.
“For 59 years, Ghana has lived with the contradiction of denouncing coups d’état while continuing to honor one of the architects of the first military overthrow of an elected government.”
Democracy Hub
Democracy Hub
Lieutenant-General Kotoka played a pivotal role in the 1966 coup that overthrew Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and his democratically elected government.
The coup disrupted Ghana’s early democratic progress and set a precedent for subsequent military interventions in the country’s political history.
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Despite the 1992 Constitution’s clear rejection of military rule, the continued use of Kotoka’s name on a major national landmark, the airport, represents an endorsement of his role in that coup, Democracy Hub argues.
Historical Contradiction and Legal Grounds
The lawsuit challenges the legality of the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (NLCD 339), which enshrined the naming of Kotoka International Airport.
Democracy Hub stressed that allowing the name to remain is a direct contradiction of Ghana’s constitutional values and a glorification of an illegal regime change.
“The naming of Kotoka International Airport, enshrined under the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969, is a state-sanctioned endorsement of an illegal regime change.
Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka
It is time for Ghana to make a clear statement that it stands against [the] unconstitutional rule, not just in rhetoric but in practice.”
Democracy Hub
The group maintained that Ghana’s democracy can only be truly strengthened when symbols of past military overthrows are removed from state institutions and national landmarks.
The lawsuit is part of a broader movement to reassess how the country remembers its past and to ensure that individuals who contributed to the unconstitutional rule are not venerated in public spaces.
Accordingly, Democracy Hub extended its gratitude to the legal team at Merton & Everett LLP for their dedication to bringing the case to court.
The statement emphasized that the lawsuit was the result of “rigorous and painstaking legal and archival research,” demonstrating the depth of historical and constitutional analysis undertaken before filing the case.
The involvement of experienced legal professionals underscores the seriousness of the case, as it seeks to challenge a decades-old law and a deeply ingrained historical narrative.
The case could set a precedent for the reassessment of other monuments and symbols linked to Ghana’s military past.
Call for Public Support
Beyond the legal battle, Democracy Hub is calling on Ghanaians from all walks of life to support this challenge.
Civil society organizations, youth activists, and all defenders of democracy are being urged to rally behind the movement to rename the airport.
“This is more than a court case; it is a national reckoning with our past and a reaffirmation of our commitment to the rule of law. The fight for democracy is the fight for Ghana’s future.”
Democracy Hub
CALL FOR COLABORATION
The group believes that achieving true democratic governance requires an honest confrontation with history.
It insisted that Ghana cannot claim to reject military takeovers while celebrating figures who actively participated in toppling a democratically elected government.
The Supreme Court’s decision on this lawsuit will be closely watched, as it could open discussions about the renaming of other public spaces associated with controversial historical figures.
If successful, the case may lead to a broader push to remove symbols of military interventions from Ghana’s national institutions.
This lawsuit is part of a growing global trend where nations reassess historical figures and their legacies, particularly those tied to undemocratic rule or colonial pasts.
Countries worldwide have engaged in debates over statues, names of institutions, and historical narratives, with many opting to rename or remove symbols that contradict modern democratic values.
For Democracy Hub and the CPP, this case is about more than just changing a name—it is about affirming Ghana’s commitment to democratic principles and ensuring that future generations grow up in a country that celebrates democracy rather than military takeovers.
