Rename Ghana’s International Airport, or you support a Coup Detat

Naming things and people after “other people” has, over the years, been done carefully. I doubt if anyone sees naming as just ordinary.

Over centuries and across countries, cultures and ethnic groups, people have been very selective about what kind of name to give to their newly born children. The same has been done with animals. The naming has been done considering, among other things, the ‘good name’ trademark. Arguably, such consideration has always been done because people expect that those names given to their children will have a positive impact on their lives. The hope is then high because of the lives lived by those people. Interestingly, similar considerations have been made in naming animals.

In the history of humanity, hardly has someone named their child or animal after Jesus’ Judas Iscariot. Judas, although having played a significant role in the salvation of Christians through his betrayal of Jesus, people have reluctantly renamed their children after him. It is worth noting that but for Judas, Jesus may not have been in the hands of the Pharisees. Having played such a significant role, his name has arguably been used in the context of betrayal and traitors.

Interestingly, Ghana faced such an interesting crossroad, and supporters of the ‘Judasm’ have elevated the name of Kotoka high.

Kotoka, just as Judas, stood up against not any other person but the African Icon, the president of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Kotoka ensured that he lost his vision for Africa; he ensured that Africa’s dream was shattered, he ensured that Ghana never became better, and to do so, he plotted a coup against Africa, Ghana and Nkrumah.

Having successfully achieved his aim, he was elevated high position at the central seat of the country.

In my view, the issue of whether Kotoka’s name should be on Ghana’s international airport or not has been settled in the case of The New Patriotic Party vrs Attorney General (31st December Case). In this case, it was settled among other things that to allow the celebration of the 31st December march and also recognize it as a public holiday was to honor coup and coup plotters, the very thing that the constitution of the republic was against. As was argued, how could an offense amounting to high treason receive such backing? As it was held in that case, that the celebration was unconstitutional, it abrogated any use of relics of coup plotters for national events or to be named after national properties after committing high treason to receive such veneration.

Undoubtedly, this case has settled the debate, but as the name continues to enjoy veneration has been a deliberate decision by many governments and also a disregard for the judicial system, which cemented the case.

Conclusion
If we are all confused about what decision to take, I want to state that the decision has already been made in the NPP v Attorney General (31st December case).

I entreat everyone to go and refer to the case and act accordingly. I remain your PanAfricanist, Emmanuel Graham Nyameke.