Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) logo
The Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has issued a statement supporting the proposal to rename Kotoka International Airport, citing the need to align the country’s national symbols with its democratic ideals.
According to GRASAG, the current name of the airport is a reminder of a painful period in Ghana’s history, when Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka led a military coup that overthrew the democratically elected government in 1966.
While acknowledging the complexity of Ghana’s history, GRASAG argues that commemorating a key actor in a military coup through the naming of a major national institution is inconsistent with Ghana’s long-standing commitment to constitutional rule, democratic governance, and the peaceful transfer of power.
GRASAG believes that renaming the airport presents an opportunity to reaffirm Ghana’s democratic ethos and honour individuals, ideals, or national values that unite the country and inspire present and future generations.
The Association emphasises that the proposal is not intended to erase history but to contextualise it appropriately, and that Ghana’s history should be studied, taught, and remembered through academic discourse, museums, and historical records.
The statement calls on the government, Parliament, traditional authorities, Civil Society Organisations, academia, and the general public to engage in an inclusive, transparent, and constructive national dialogue on the matter.
GRASAG is confident that such engagement will lead to a decision that strengthens national cohesion, promotes democratic values, and enhances Ghana’s international standing.
Source:
www.ghanaweb.com