Transport Minister, Joseph Nikpe Bukari has dismissed claims that changing the name of Kotoka International Airport back to the Accra International Airport would impose a heavy financial burden on the state.
Addressing concerns about the potential cost of the renaming, he described suggestions of significant expenditure as inaccurate.
He explained that key international aviation identifiers remain unchanged, which removes the need for expensive adjustments at the global level.
“The organizations that regulate aviation have not altered the country code. The IATA code and the location code are still the same, so there is nothing to modify internationally,” he stated.
According to him, the only visible changes required involve signages and billboards within the airport.
He added that these updates would not trigger new procurement processes since existing vendors already handle such materials.
“The same companies that produce our letterheads, stamps, and other printed items will continue the work. It is not a new contract. It is simply a replacement of names,” he noted.
He further pointed out that the airport is currently undergoing renovation works, which makes the timing of the name adjustment more practical and less costly.
“We are already carrying out construction and refurbishment. Some signages would naturally be replaced as part of that process. The additional cost will be very small,” he indicated.
While acknowledging that the exercise would involve some expense, the minister assured the public that the amount would be minimal and would not disrupt airport operations.
He recognized the public’s interest in how taxpayer funds are spent. However, he maintained that internal arrangements have been made to ensure the process remains cost effective.
“I understand why people are asking questions. This is public money. But I want to assure Ghanaians that the renaming will not add any huge cost to the system,” he emphasized.
By: Jacob Aggrey