The Supreme Court of Ghana has directed the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General to submit a formal response within seven days regarding a legal challenge against the purported renaming of Kotoka International Airport.
This order was issued on Thursday, 14 May 2026, during the consideration of an application by the state for an extension of time to file its statement of case in the matter of Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers v. Attorney-General.
The plaintiff, a legal practitioner and policy analyst, initiated the proceedings in March 2026 to contest the legality of the reported name change. He maintains that any such modification failed to adhere to requisite legal protocols, specifically those established under the General Kotoka Trust Decree, 1969 (NRCD 339).
It is the plaintiff’s contention that the airport’s official designation can only be altered through the formal amendment or repeal of existing legislation, rather than through executive fiat or administrative instruction.
Mr Brako-Powers further asserts that the dispute invokes significant constitutional questions regarding the limits of executive power, the validity of administrative decisions, and the statutory framework governing the naming of national assets.
In the recent hearing, the Chief State Attorney, representing the government, sought additional time to address the substantive legal arguments raised in the suit.
Whilst the court acceded to the request for an extension, it emphasised the importance of an expedited process and strictly mandated the Attorney-General to file the response within the week to prevent further procedural delays.
Following the proceedings, counsel for the plaintiff, Michael Akosah, remarked to the press that the renaming of such landmarks must strictly observe constitutional and statutory mandates, which may include parliamentary oversight.
The Attorney-General’s forthcoming response is expected to clarify whether the executive or state agencies possess the unilateral authority to rename national landmarks without recourse to Parliament.
