Remembering Madam Theodosia Salome Okoh

In this Ghana Month, we celebrate the life of Madam Theodosia Salome Okoh, a revered Ghanaian stateswoman, sportswoman, teacher, and artist, who left an indelible mark on the nation’s history.

Born on June 13, 1922, in Wenchi, Madam Theodosia Salome Okoh, affectionately known as “Dosia, Mama Maa,” or simply “Maa,” was the daughter of Reverend Emmanuel Victor Asihene and Madam Dora Asihene. She was the fourth of eight children.

Madam Okoh’s most notable achievement came in 1957 when Ghana gained independence from British rule. Recognizing the need for a new national flag, she submitted her design, which was subsequently chosen by Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, on March 6, 1957. The flag’s red, gold, and green colors symbolize Ghana’s rich vegetation, mineral wealth, and the sacrifices made for independence, with a lone black star representing African unity and emancipation from colonialism.

Beyond her contribution to national symbolism, Madam Okoh was an architect in sports administration, particularly in hockey. She served as the first female chairman of the Ghana Hockey Association and later as President of the Ghana Hockey Federation for over two decades. Under her leadership, Ghana qualified for both the Hockey World Cup and the Olympic Games, marking significant milestones in the nation’s sporting history.

Madam Theodosia Salome Okoh passed away on April 19, 2015, at the Narh-Bita Hospital in Tema, at the age of 92, after a brief illness. In honour of her legacy, former President John Dramani Mahama decreed that flags across the nation would fly at half-mast for three days, from April 21 to April 23, 2015.

Today, sixty-seven years after Madam Okoh’s iconic design, the Ghanaian flag remains a symbol of pride, unity, and national identity, a testament to her enduring legacy and contribution to Ghana’s history and culture.