Lawyer Austin Brako Powers sues Ghana government to stop the controversial rebranding of Kotoka International Airport

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The decision by the Ghanaian government to strip Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka’s name from the nation’s primary gateway has hit a major legal roadblock. Austin Kwabena Brako Powers, a prominent legal practitioner, has dragged the matter to the Supreme Court, alleging that the sudden shift to “Accra International Airport” is a blatant violation of the country’s constitutional framework.

The Legal Battlefront

At the heart of this dispute is the February 23, 2026, announcement by the Ministry of Transport which effectively reverted the airport to its original name. Brako Powers argues that the government cannot simply rename national landmarks through executive fiat while ignoring existing legislation. Specifically, he points to the General Kotoka Trust Decree of 1969, a law he insists remains valid and binding until it is formally repealed or amended by Parliament.

Seeking a Judicial Veto

In the lawsuit filed against the Attorney General on March 18, 2026, the plaintiff is asking the apex court to declare the renaming “null, void, and of no legal effect.” Brako Powers contends that bypassing the legislature to erase Kotoka’s name undermines the rule of law. His legal team is seeking several key interventions:

  • A Declaration of Invalidity: Asserting that the 1969 Decree is still the law of the land.
  • An Immediate Injunction: To stop the Ministry of Transport and its agents from using the new name while the case is being heard.
  • Constitutional Safeguards: Protecting the integrity of national infrastructure naming from arbitrary executive decisions.

Why This Matters

As a citizen and registered voter, Brako Powers claims he is acting in the public interest to prevent “constitutional breaches.” This case is now set to become a landmark test of executive authority in Ghana, forcing the Supreme Court to decide whether the government’s power to brand the nation stops where existing laws begin. With the Attorney General given 14 days to respond, the future of the airport’s identity remains hanging in a state of legal limbo.

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