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Witness History: Theodosia Okoh: Designer of Ghana’s flag

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The woman behind Ghana’s flag

11/10/2023 GMT

Theodosia Okoh: Designer of Ghana’s flag

BBC World Service - Witness History, Theodosia Okoh: Designer of Ghana’s flag

Ghana's independence in 1957 was marked with a new flag designed by Theodosia Okoh

In 1957, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence. The unveiling of a new flag marked a fresh start for Ghana. It was designed by Theodosia Okoh.

In March 1957, Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence and a new flag was unveiled marking a fresh start for the former British colony known as the Gold Coast.  

The woman behind the design was Theodosia Okoh, an artist and former teacher who won a government competition for a new emblem which would signify the end of British rule.

Her flag had red, gold and green horizontal stripes with a black star in the centre and it replaced the symbol of an elephant encircled in front of a palm tree below the Union Jack.

Theodosia’s son Kwasi Okoh was a young boy at the time of independence, he speaks to Reena Stanton-Sharma about the inspiration behind his mother's creation.

(Photo: Ghanaian football fans with the flag at the 2006 World Cup. Credit Joerg Koch/DDP/AFP via Getty Images)

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