Playwright and entertainment industry personality, George Quaye has questioned why Ghana’s airport cannot be named after creatives instead of politicians.
Taking to his Facebook page on February 24, 2025, Quaye suggested iconic artists and cultural figures such as filmmaker Kwaw Ansah, the legendary band Osibisa, or poet Atukwei Okai can be considered for the airport’s renaming instead of another politician.
“Must the airport necessarily be named after a politician? How about Kwaw Ansah, Osibisa, or Atukwei Okai International Airport?” he questioned.
George Quaye’s suggestion comes amid a suit at the Supreme Court seeing the removal of the name, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka, from the international airport.
The plaintiffs of the suit, Democracy Hub and Convention People’s Party (CPP) argued that Kotoka is a key figure in the 1966 coup that ousted Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, hence Ghana cannot continue to honour his name.
While some advocate for renaming the airport after Nkrumah, others argue that Ghana’s cultural and creative pioneers deserve recognition on such a prominent national platform.
Why consider creatives in naming airport?
Kwaw Ansah, an internationally recognized filmmaker and pioneer of Ghanaian cinema, has showcased the country’s rich storytelling traditions through works such as Heritage Africa and Love Brewed in the African Pot.
Osibisa, the internationally acclaimed band, put Ghanaian music on the global map by blending highlife with Afro-rock and Inspiring generations of musicians.
Atukwei Okai, a renowned poet and cultural advocate, promoted African literature and Pan-Africanism, leaving a lasting impact on Ghana’s artistic landscape. Quaye’s suggestion has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
However, there are alternative views that political figures like Nkrumah hold greater symbolic importance for the country’s history and identity.
