Fresh details have emerged over the government’s proposed renaming of Kotoka International Airport, with the Attorney-General telling the Supreme Court that the 1969 decree establishing the airport’s name remains intact and has not been amended or repealed.

In an affidavit filed in response to a legal challenge against the renaming, Assistant State Attorney Mamavi Owusu-Aboagye said Kotoka International Airport remained the facility’s legal name despite a government announcement in February that it would revert to Accra International Airport.

The affidavit, sworn on 18 May, forms part of proceedings in the case of Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers v Attorney-General.

In paragraph 15, the state attorney stated that the government had not amended, repealed or contravened the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (NLCD 339).

“The General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (NLCD 339) remains fully intact and operative as part of the laws of Ghana. The airport’s legal name under Ghanaian law continues to be Kotoka International Airport,” the affidavit said.

The development comes months after the Ministry of Transport announced on 23 February, that the airport would revert to the name Accra International Airport.

Documents attached to the affidavit indicate that signed copies of the Accra International Airport Bill, 2026, were returned to the Attorney-General by the Transport Minister on 10 February.

However, the affidavit indicates that the proposed legislation had not yet been laid before Parliament.

The ministry’s 23 February announcement, also attached to the court filing, outlined plans to update official documentation, statutory instruments, airport signage, digital platforms and aviation publications as part of the renaming process.

The affidavit noted that the announcement itself did not amend or repeal the existing decree.

It stated that further steps, including statutory instruments where necessary, would be required to complete the process.

The case was brought by Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, who is challenging the government’s decision to rename the airport without first amending or repealing the existing legislation.

The plaintiff argues that the move is inconsistent with the 1992 Constitution and should therefore be declared null and void.

The legal dispute centres on whether the government can change the airport’s official name through an administrative announcement without first taking the necessary legislative steps.

Articles 11(1)(d) and 11(4) of the Constitution recognise existing laws, which remain in force until they are lawfully amended or repealed.

The plaintiff contends that NLCD 339 must be amended or repealed before the proposed name change can take legal effect.

The Attorney-General also addressed concerns about the General Kotoka Trust established under the decree.

In paragraph 16 of the affidavit, the state attorney said the trust had not been dissolved and that its beneficiaries had not lost any entitlements.

“The trust remains operative. No trust beneficiary has been deprived of any benefit,” the affidavit stated.

The government maintains that it has neither violated nor repealed the existing decree.

The Supreme Court is expected to determine the legal issues raised in the case, including the status of the airport’s name and the procedures required to effect the proposed change.