THE Minister of Transport, Mr Joseph Nikpe, has justified the renaming of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Accra International Airport, saying the move is aimed at restoring the facility’s historical identity rather than serving any political agenda.
“We are not doing this with any political thinking but from a neutral point of view that Accra is our capital city and of significance to us,” he said.
Mr Nikpe explained that Accra carried a rich cultural, historical and geographical identity recognised across West Africa and beyond, adding that renaming the airport was of significant importance to Ghanaians and the broader African identity.
He made these remarks during a working visit to the management of Intercity STC Coaches Limited (ISTC) in Accra yesterday.
According to the Minister, restoring the airport to its original name aligns with efforts to preserve national history and identity.
He added that other monuments and national facilities could be reviewed separately, where necessary, to ensure consistency with Ghana’s founding heritage.
Touching on broader transport sector issues, including traffic congestion and urban transportation challenges, Mr Nikpe said a multi-agency approach was being considered to ease pressure on commuters.
He said the strategy would involve the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ghana Police Service and other key stakeholders.
The Minister also urged private investors to take advantage of current urban transport challenges by introducing more buses onto the roads.
He explained that although government remained committed to procuring additional buses, procurement processes often resulted in delays.
Mr Nikpe reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing reliable and efficient public transport to enhance productivity and national development.
“Government exists to solve the problems of the citizenry, and as a government, we cannot sit and allow our people to struggle every morning to find transport to work. We are coordinating efforts to ensure the situation is resolved,” he said.
The Managing Director of ISTC, Mr Alhassan Ligbi, said the company inherited about 50 operational buses with an average fleet age of six years.
He said management had since secured approval to procure 500 new buses to strengthen the STC fleet.
Mr Ligbi noted that measures were also being implemented to block revenue leakages, improve maintenance systems and expand complementary services, particularly cargo operations, to turn around the fortunes of the company.
“Our parcel services have been revamped and we are developing a full-fledged cargo system. In January alone, we recorded revenue of ¢1.7 million, and if the trajectory remains the same, we expect further improvement,” he said.
The proposed renaming of the airport has generated public debate, with stakeholders expressing varied views on its implications for national memory, history and identity.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
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