Facts about Kotaka International Airport

Kotoka international Airport the premier Airport  in Ghana is situated in the capital city of the country, Accra.It was constructed by the Colonial government.The Airport was basically served as a military Airport during the World War ll for the British Force.

The Airport was handed over to people of Ghana after our early independence.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah the first president of Ghana, renovated and expanded the Airport. Before Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to embarked on a journey of no return, that is travelling to Vietnam to settle disputes without returning back as the president of Ghana, the Airport was then called Accra International Airport.

Before leaving to  Hanoi, Vietnam for the peace mission, Nkrumah has already finished renovating and equipping the Airport with the needed facilities and wanted to rename it after his journey. But Nkrumah’s dream was in vain.

In Nkrumah’s absence, he was overthrown by the National Liberation Council (NLC) led by Lieutenant General Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa and Major General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka in 1966.

In the year 1969, the Accra International Airport was named after Major General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka who teamed up with other Military officers and police to demolished Kwame Nkrumah’s Administration.

WHO IS MAJOR GENERAL E. K. KOTOKA?

Major General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka was born on 26th September, 1926 at Alakple a village in Keta.

He had his basic education at Roman Catholic school at Alakple and then to Anloga Senior High School in 1941.

He was trained as goldsmith but he switched to military. He was enlisted as in a private infantry School of Gold Coast military. He was among the young officers who were sent to England for training.He promoted to Major General and became a member of the NLC.

Major General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka was killed on May 17,1967 through a military coup attempt.

In the present days, there has been an argument that there was no need to name the Airport after Kotoka since it was Nkrumah who renovate and constructed it when it was handed over to Ghananains.

The Kotoka International Airport serve as the Gateway to Ghana.The Kotoka International Airport consists of two passengers terminals, terminal two and three. The terminal one is out of use.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, Kotoka International Airport served over there million passengers.

The Kotoka International Airport received a recognition as the best Airport in Africa three consecutive times (2019,2021 and 2022) respectively.

In March 2022, Kotoka International Airport  was named as the Best Airport by Size and Region by Airport Service Quality, given by Airport Council International.

American Airways, Brussels and Turkish Airlines have their ticketing centres at KIA.