Supreme Court orders Attorney-General to respond in KIA renaming case within 7 days

The Supreme Court of Ghana has directed the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to file a response within seven days in a suit challenging the alleged renaming of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

The order was issued on Thursday, 14 May 2026, when the apex court heard an application by the Attorney-General seeking an extension of time to file a Statement of Case in the matter titled Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers v. Attorney-General.

The plaintiff, Mr Brako-Powers, a lawyer and policy analyst, filed the suit in March 2026, contesting the government’s decision to rename the Kotoka International Airport, arguing that the action was not carried out in accordance with the relevant legal framework, including the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (NRCD 339).

He contends that any lawful change to the airport’s name must be effected through a formal amendment or repeal of the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (NRCD 339), rather than by executive announcement or administrative directive.

The dispute centres on the historical and legal status of one of Ghana’s key national infrastructure assets, which has long been associated with Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Michael Akosah, told journalists that any attempt to alter the name of the airport must strictly comply with constitutional and statutory requirements, including adequate consultation and parliamentary approval where necessary.

Lawyers for the state, led by a Chief State Attorney, appeared before the Supreme Court of Ghana and prayed the Court for additional time to respond fully to the substantive legal issues raised in the case.

While the Court granted the application for extension of time, it stressed the need for expeditious proceedings and consequently ordered the Attorney-General to file a response within seven days to avoid unnecessary delays in the hearing.

The plaintiff maintains that the matter goes beyond historical or political considerations and raises important questions on constitutional governance, administrative authority, and the limits of executive power.

The Attorney-General is expected to address whether any existing legal framework permits the executive or any state institution to unilaterally rename national landmarks without parliamentary approval.

The case is expected to return to the Supreme Court after the Attorney-General files its response, with legal observers describing it as a potentially landmark decision on the legal process governing the naming and renaming of public assets in Ghana.