Former Presidential hopeful of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and President of the Kwame Nkrumah Foundation, Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, says naming Ghana’s International Airport after a coup maker – Kotoka – is a slap in the face of the country’s democracy and its akin to glorifying coup makers in the country.
Lt. General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka was a member of the National Liberation Council which overthrew Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the then President of the Republic of Ghana on 24th February, 1966.
Today marks hundred and one years of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday and it is recognized as Ghana’s Founders day.
Speaking to an Accra based radio station, Citi FM, Prof. Akosa said most African countries has named their national assets to people who strived and gave their lives to the welfare of their country rather Ghana has named it gateway after a coup maker.
“As a country we are in a big conundrum and I am saying we cannot be democratic and yet have our gateway named after Kotoka. In Kenya, it is Jomo Kenyatta Airport, in Botswana and South Africa; Airports have been named after people who placed their lives at the disposal of the countries to make them what they are…The rehabilitation of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is incomplete until and unless we change the name of Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport,” he argued.
Professor Akosa commended various institutions that have and are showing recognition to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as its founder and called on other institutions especially the various financial institutions to contribute to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Fund to help support brilliant but needy children in the country.
“I am asking that they all contribute into a Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Fund and I will be happy to serve on the Board of Trustees of this Memorial fund to support brilliant and needy children in this country,” he said.
Source: Beatrice Adepa Frempong/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana