Theodosia Okoh, the renowned designer of Ghana’s national flag, has once again become a subject of public debate following controversy surrounding her portrait on the newly introduced GH¢50 banknote.
Interestingly, this is not the first time her name has become entangled in controversy involving the Mahama-led government. On two separate occasions, issues surrounding her legacy and recognition have sparked public discussions and drawn political attention.
Here is a look at the two controversies and what happened in each instance.
In a social media post shared by Akosua Journalist, Theodosia Salome Okoh’s two controversies under the Mahama government.
She disclosed that the first happened in July 2013, when the Accra Metropolitan Assembly announced plans to rename the National Hockey Stadium, which was named after Theodosia Okoh, after the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
Akosua Journalist wrote, In 2013, Theodosia Okoh, the woman who designed Ghana’s national flag found herself at the centre of public controversy after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly announced plans to rename the hockey stadium bearing her name after the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
Theodosia Okoh’s family felt that the decision taken under then President John Mahama’s government showed an apparent disregard for the contribution of a woman whose work had become one of Ghana’s most enduring national symbols.
The renaming decision was eventually reversed.
President Mahama publicly apologised to her and later visited her at home to convey the apology in person.
She further disclosed that 13 years later, Theodosia Okoh has been caught in yet another Mahama government controversy, this time as one of the personalities selected for Ghana’s new Heritage Series currency.
The controversy stems from a wrong image of Theodosia Okoh being used on Ghana’s new GH¢50 note, which has sparked questions about the selection and accuracy of the portrait, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin leading the charge, raising concerns about the image used on the new currency note.
The Minority Leader questioned the government’s diligence in selecting the image, contending that the alleged error raised concerns about its ability to manage the country’s economy.
Afenyo-Markin slammed the government for rushing to remove the images of the Big Six from Ghana’s currency, resulting in a mistake in representing Theodosia Okoh, the designer of Ghana’s national flag.
Addressing journalists after the presentation of the 2027 budget, Afenyo-Markin stated, “They were in haste to erase the Big Six from our currency and our history. Out of that haste and hate, we saw them outdooring a note bearing the name of Theodosia Okoh, but they got her picture wrong and placed a different face on the GH¢50 note,” he said.
“So a whole government machinery that cannot be diligent enough to get the right picture to put on our currency, how can we trust them with our economy? Can we trust them to put money in our pockets?” he asked.
Also, the Minority allegation was corroborated by Dr Eddie Obeng MBA, who said Theodosia Okkoh was his mother’s sister.
According to a post on LinkedIn by Dr Eddie Obeng accompanied by front and back images of the new GH₵50 note, he revealed that he had been proud to hear his aunt had been honoured, only to realise the face on the note was not hers, but rather his mother’s.
“I have a wry smile on my face that won’t go away, and occasionally I shake my head or giggle. So, I heard this morning that my aunt had been honoured in a new series of issued banknotes in Ghana – she’s famous there for designing the country’s flag after independence from Britain.
I was very proud and began composing a message to my cousin. Imagine my surprise when I took a look and realised that they have used a picture of my mother instead – she’s famous for being the country’s first lady PhD. You can’t make it up,” he wrote.
See the post below:
In 2013, Theodosia Okoh, the woman who designed Ghana’s national flag found herself at the centre of public controversy after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly announced plans to rename the hockey stadium bearing her name after the late President John Evans Atta Mills. Theodosia Okoh’s family felt that the decision taken under then President John Mahama’s government showed an apparent disregard for the contribution of a woman whose work had become one of Ghana’s most enduring national symbols. The renaming decision was eventually reversed. President Mahama publicly apologised to her and later visited her at home to convey the apology in person. 13years later her name is back in the national conversation. This time, as one of the personalities selected for Ghana’s new Heritage Series currency. As someone who studied History, I find these interesting. Meanwhile at dawn, when sleep wasn’t coming, I was reading a few details about the personalities selected for the new currency. Out of curiosity, I asked ChatGPT a question: "If Ghana were to honour some of the significant people who have contributed to its history and development by putting them on its currency, whose names should feature?" The response was a rather long list of names. J.B Danquah, Philip Gbeho, Yaa Asantewaa and other key figures. It got me thinking about the depth of our history and how many remarkable individuals may or may never receive the national recognition their contributions deserve. I think with time, we should create those beautiful memories of them and honour them accordingly. Oh, the list had Prof. Frimpong Boateng too and Ako Adjei from the famous ‘Big Six’.
— Akosua Journalist (@Iam_aJournalist) November 13, 2026
