Theodosia Okoh is dead
The designer of the national flag, Theodosia Salomey Okoh, died early yesterday morning at the age of 92.
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According to a family source, she passed away at 6 a.m. at Narh Bita Hospital in Tema after a short illness.
She was said to have been admitted to the Ridge Hospital about a month ago before she was transferred to the Narh Bita Hospital for further attention.
Mrs Okoh was born Theodosia Salomey Asihene on June 14, 1922 at Anum in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region. She was the fourth of eight children born to the Rev Asihene.
Growing up in a typical religious and royal family, she decided to leave an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of people right from her childhood.
She had her elementary education at Asante-Akyem Agogo in the Ashanti Region. She later proceeded to the Agogo Presbyterian Training College to train as a teacher and taught all her lifetime.
She later received a three-year training in Fine Art at the Achimota School and qualified as an artist.
She married Mr Enoch Kwabena Okoh, the Head of Civil Service in the Nkrumah regime, and became known as Theodosia Salomey Okoh.
Achievements
Due to her hard work and dedication to national development, Mrs Okoh was awarded the Grand Medal (GM) by the nation. She also received a number of awards from some institutions in the country.
In recognition of her contribution to national development and in view of her interest in sports, particularly hockey, the National Hockey Pitch was named after her.
She also chaired the National Hockey Association.
A decision to rename the hockey pitch to coincide with the first anniversary of the demise of former President John Evans Atta Mills attracted criticisms from many quarters.
In her reaction to the name change, Mrs Okoh described the decision as very painful because it was done without any consultation with her.
President John Dramani Mahama then stepped in to stop the renaming of the pitch.
In addition to honours bestowed on her, Mrs Okoh received a citation from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the National Sports Awards in 2004.
Others are the Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards and an award from “Obaa Mbo,” a TV Africa series.
She will be greatly remembered for designing the national flag to replace the Union Jack after Ghana gained independence from Britain.
Additionally, the Asuogyaman District Assembly in the Eastern Region has erected a bust in her honour at Anum, her hometown.
Whenever Ghana’s flag goes high, Mrs Okoh’s name is evoked.