Green Tax Youth Africa, is urging the government and Parliament to halt the practice of renaming already established state assets, warning that the exercise diverts attention and resources away from urgent national development challenges.
In a statement released on 3 February 2026, Executive Director of Green Tax Youth Africa, Nii Addo, said Ghana is facing pressing economic and social issues, including high unemployment, housing deficits, overstretched public infrastructure, weak transport systems, under-resourced health facilities, environmental degradation, and illegal mining.
“Renaming does not create jobs. Renaming does not reduce transport fares. Renaming does not fix hospitals or solve housing shortages,” he stressed, adding that the focus should instead be on policies and investments that generate tangible benefits for citizens.
The call comes amid recent discussions over proposals to rename Kotoka International Airport and other longstanding public institutions. Nii Addo argued that the recurring renaming of state assets after political transitions has historically delivered no measurable benefit, citing examples such as Jubilee House/Flagstaff House, Ghana Airways’ rebranding, and Metro Mass Transit.
According to him, such practices not only incur avoidable administrative and rebranding costs but also risk deepening political divisions and projecting instability to both citizens and international observers.
He urged that any future attempts to honor national figures or commemorate historical legacies should be tied to new infrastructure or development projects, rather than renaming existing assets. He also recommended that proposals for renaming undergo broad public consultation, historical review, and cost-benefit assessment before consideration.
“Ghana’s development challenge is not a naming problem. It is a governance, service delivery, and economic transformation problem. Our national focus must reflect this reality,” he said.
Nii Addo’s statement calls for a shift in parliamentary and public priorities toward job creation, health and transport improvements, housing development, agricultural modernization, and environmental protection.
