Pride of Ghana — National Flag
Before independence, the Ghana national flag was just the same as the present day Union flag used by the British.
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This flag was removed in 1875 and replaced with another one with blue background, but this time the Union flag was at the top left corner and a circled elephant with a vegetation were in the background close to the mid section.
Upon our attainment of independence on March 6, 1957, this also ceased to be used. The current Ghana flag which was designed by Mrs Theodosia Salome Okoh replaced the flag of the United Kingdom.
This national flag, after flying at high mast for approximately seven years, was changed slightly by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana. He replaced the horizontal gold strip in the middle with a white one.
This was also changed when Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown in 1966. The initial colours were readopted and that has been the national flag of Ghana till date.
The current flag consists of the Pan-African colours of red, yellow, and green, in horizontal stripes, with a black five-pointed star in the centre of the gold stripe. The Ghanaian flag was the first African flag after the flag of Ethiopia to feature these colours.
Mrs Okoh is reported to have explained that she decided on red, gold and green because of the geography of Ghana. Ghana lies in the tropics and is blessed with rich vegetation.
The colour Red signifies the blood of those who died or fought for the country's independence.
The Gold was influenced by the mineral rich nature of our lands.
The colour green symbolises the country’s rich forests and natural wealth.
The black star was adopted from the flag of the Black Star Line, a shipping line incorporated by Marcus Garvey. The five pointed lone star in the flag stands for freedom.
A country's flag may merely be a piece of coloured fabric, but it symbolises so much more.
The national flag serves as a means of identity. At major international sporting events, the moment anyone sees our athletes/players with the national flag, without being told which country they are from, one is able to identify them as Ghanaians.
On the official state vehicles of our missions abroad and on their premises, the flag of Ghana is hoisted to indicate which country it is representing.
The flag also symbolises all that our people valued, fought and died for. It is for this reason that we, the younger generation, should honour it in order not to make the efforts of those who fought for it be in vain.
As young people, it is expected of us to treat the flag with the same respect given to political leaders. Under no circumstance should we dishonour it by tearing or burning the national flag because it is the embodiment of the spirit of our dear country, Ghana.