Editing Kotoka International Airport (section)

==History==

The airport was originally a military airport used by the British Royal Air Force during World War II. The facility was handed over to civilian authorities after the war. A development project was launched in 1956 by President [[Kwame Nkrumah]] to reconfigure the structure into a terminal building. The project was completed in 1958, turning the military base into an airport with a capacity of 500,000 passengers per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gacl.com.gh/kia.php|title=Ghana Airports Company Limited {{!}} Home :: GACL|website=www.gacl.com.gh|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115071715/http://www.gacl.com.gh/kia.php|archive-date=15 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The airport was originally named Accra International Airport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KIA History – GACL|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/kia-history/|access-date=2021-01-08|language=en}}</ref>

In 1969, the Accra International Airport was renamed Kotoka International Airport, in honor of Lieutenant General [[Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka]] (1926–1967), a member of the [[National Liberation Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=KIA History – GACL|url=https://www.gacl.com.gh/kia-history/|access-date=2021-01-15|language=en}}</ref> Kotoka was killed in an abortive coup attempt at a location that is now the forecourt of the airport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GENERAL KOTOKA TRUST ACT, 1969 N.L.C.D. 339|url=http://elibrary.jsg.gov.gh/fg/laws%20of%20ghana/2%20REP/GENERAL%20KOTOKA%20TRUST%20ACT,%201969%20N.L.C.D.%20339.htm|access-date=2021-01-08|website=elibrary.jsg.gov.gh}}</ref>

=== Terminal 3 ===
Construction officially commenced on 1 March 2016 on a new $274 million Terminal 3 which is capable of handling 5 million passengers a year, with an expansion potential of up to 6.5 million. The sod-cutting was done by President [[John Mahama|John Dramani Mahama]] and Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdogan]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mahama, Turkish leader cut sod for Terminal 3 project at KIA|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/mahama-turkish-leader-cut-sod-for-terminal-3-project-at-kia.html|website=Graphic Online|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> The new Terminal 3 will handle 1,250 passengers an hour, equipped with three business lounges, a large commercial and retail area and six boarding bridges. The terminal opened to passengers on 15 September 2018 and officially inaugurated on 2 October by President [[Nana Akufo-Addo]].<ref name="centreforaviation.com"/>

=== Controversy over airport name ===
There has been considerable debate over the years as to whether it was fitting to rename the airport from Accra International Airport to Kotoka International Airport from General [[Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka|Kotoka]]. Many argue that the airport was built by [[Dr Kwame Nkrumah]], and that it is not fitting to name it after Kotoka, who led a coup to overthrow Nkrumah's government.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Kwame-Nkrumah-International-Airport-Why-Not-282872|title=Kwame Nkrumah International Airport - Why Not?|newspaper=Ghanaweb|date=19 August 2013|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Renaming-Kotoka-International-Airport-A-slight-difference-190873|title=Renaming Kotoka International Airport- A slight difference|website=www.ghanaweb.com|date=30 November 2001|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/rename-kotoka-airport-samia.html|title=Rename Kotoka International Airport - Samia Nkrumah - Graphic Online|last=Graphic|first=Daily|website=www.graphic.com.gh|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref>