Historian, Lawyer, and CPP member Anokye Frimpong calls for renaming Kotoka International Airport to Yaa Asantewaa Airport
Anokye Frimpong, a renowned historian, lawyer, and member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has suggested renaming Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Yaa Asantewaa Airport.
Frimpong argued that the name change would be a fitting tribute to the legendary Ashanti Queen Mother, Yaa Asantewaa, who played a pivotal role in defending the nation during the early 20th century.
Frimpong, known for his deep knowledge of Ghana’s history, explained that Yaa Asantewaa’s contributions to Ghana’s fight for freedom and the preservation of the Ashanti Kingdom deserve to be honored on a national scale.
Speaking on Kessben FM’s Maakye with Nana Frimpong Ziega, he pointed out that Yaa Asantewaa’s courage and leadership during the War of the Golden Stool in 1900, in which she led her people against British colonial forces, remains one of the most significant moments in the history of Ghana and Africa as a whole. According to Frimpong, renaming KIA after her would not only serve as a lasting tribute to her legacy but would also reflect the nation’s pride in its African heritage and history.
Frimpong further highlighted that even Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, would be proud of such an honor. Nkrumah, a pan-Africanist and a key figure in Ghana’s fight for independence, held great admiration for African heroes who fought for the betterment of their people. Frimpong suggested that Nkrumah, who sought to unite Africans and elevate the status of the continent, would have supported this recognition of Yaa Asantewaa as a powerful symbol of African pride and resistance.
The call to rename Kotoka International Airport, which is named after Major General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, a Ghanaian military leader who played a role in the 1966 coup that overthrew President Nkrumah, has sparked mixed reactions. Some have applauded Frimpong’s idea, agreeing that it is time for Ghana to honor the women who have shaped the country’s history. They argue that a name change would reflect a commitment to gender equality and would give Yaa Asantewaa the recognition she rightfully deserves as a powerful African female leader.
On the other hand, critics of the proposal argue that the name Kotoka holds historical significance, especially as it honors a key figure in Ghana’s post-independence military history. They contend that renaming the airport could be seen as erasing an important aspect of Ghana’s past and that Kotoka’s contribution to the country’s history should not be overshadowed by the call for a name change.
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