Accra

  WWII to present

  Ghana

CITY: Accra

IATA/ICAO CODES: ACC / DGAA

COORDINATES: 05°36'N / 000°10'W

OTHER NAMES: Accra (WWII to 1958), Accra International (1958 to 1969), Kotoka International (1969 to present)

Accra Kotoka was originally built as a military airport by the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Accra was on a major stop on the trans-African route operated by Air Transport Command's Central African Wing.

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. The airport was originally named Accra International Airport. In 1969, the Accra International Airport was renamed Kotoka International Airport, in honour of Lieutenant General Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka (1926–1967), a member of the National Liberation Council. Kotoka was killed in an abortive coup attempt at a location which is now the forecourt of the airport.

1201^st AAF Base Unit (Accra)

Air Transport Command Central African Wing