Renaming Kotoka Airport: See how much airport renaming has cost elsewhere [Infographics]

The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and the Transport Minister, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, have both confirmed that Kotoka International Airport will be renamed Accra International Airport.

The name, which has been in place for about 57 years, would be reverted to the airport’s original designation.

What has received far less attention is the cost of such a change.

In cities and countries where airport names have been changed, the process is typically accompanied by a detailed, publicly disclosed budget.

This is often presented separately by city authorities, parliament, and the airport operator.

The aim is to provide a clear breakdown of costs, funding sources, and to ensure that passengers are not indirectly charged through higher airport service fees to finance the exercise.

Local advertising and branding experts in Accra estimate that renaming Kotoka International Airport could cost between $2 million and $5 million.

As the former executive director of the Advertising Association of Ghana, Frank Dadzie put it, “we’re looking at between $2 million to $5 million dollars to be able to effectively do this. But we also have to bear in mind that it might not be a full-scale rebranding, but a name change.”

That estimate is broadly consistent with international experience.

Historical records show airport renaming costs ranging from about $850,000 in 2001 to as much as $7 million in 2021, depending on airport size, traffic volumes, and the scope of rebranding.

The main cost components would include replacing the primary terminal signage, updating road and directional signs leading to the airport, changing logos and branding, rebranding materials used by airlines and for international passengers, and updating stationery and business materials.

Ordinarily, changes to ICAO and IATA airport codes can add to costs. However, Ghana’s current codes do not include the name Kotoka, meaning they can be retained.

This would limit part of the potential expense.

Parliament and the Ghana Airports Company Limited will need to provide the public with a detailed cost breakdown of the renaming exercise.

They will also need to disclose the source of funding.

Transparency will be critical to ensure that the financial burden is not quietly passed on to passengers or absorbed through higher airport charges.