Ghana’s transport minister has rejected claims that renaming the country’s main international airport will saddle the state with heavy costs.
Joseph Bukari Nikpe told reporters Tuesday that reverting Kotoka International Airport to its original name, Accra International Airport, will not impose a significant financial burden.
“The good news for us is that all these organizations that control aviation in Ghana … have not changed the country code,” Nikpe said. He noted that the International Civil Aviation Organisation still lists the airport as DGAA and the International Air Transport Association continues to use the ACC code.
Nikpe said the only changes required are signage and billboards, which will be handled by existing vendors. “It is just a matter of Kotoka now being changed to Accra. The same vendors who produce their stamps and letterheads are the same company that now changes them. So, what will be the cost there?” he asked.
He added that ongoing renovation works at the airport mean new signage would have been installed regardless of the name change. “Even though there will be some cost, it is not a cost that we should care much about,” he said.
The government announced Monday that the airport would return to its former and internationally recognized name. Officials said the change will not affect operations, safety standards or international travel arrangements.
