President Mahama pays last respect to Theodosia Okoh

Accra, May 28, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday joined hundreds of mourners who thronged the premises of the State House to pay their last respect to Mrs Theodosia Salome Abenaki Kumea Okoh, designer of the national flag.

Also at the funeral were; Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, former President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

The ceremony also attracted Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, political leaders from all the political parties in the country, the clergy, family members, members of the Diplomatic Corps and sympathisers.

Mrs Okoh was born on Tuesday, June 13, 1922 to Reverend Emmanuel Victor Asihene and Mrs Dora Pobea Akyea Asihene.

After going through all the process of education, she got married to Mr Enoch Kwabena Okoh, a foundation member of the Prince of the Wales College.

The family was blessed with three children, two boys and a girl who are now contributing their quota to the development of the country.

Beyond the family and occupational chores Mrs Okoh designed the national colours of red, gold and green with the black star in the middle.

She also volunteered in the Ghana Red Cross Society, contributed to the activities of the Young Women Christian Association and joined the Ghana Horticultural society, through which she learnt a lot about many plants

In sports, she was one of the early enthusiasts of hockey, the game she rose to become the deputy National Chairman of during the Nkrumah regime.

Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Communications who read President Mahama's tribute said Mrs Okoh should be celebrated because of her contribution towards the growth and development of Ghana.

He credited her for developing hockey into a national game and later participated in international competitions.

Dr Boamah said the colours she chose for the national flag stimulated other countries to prefer red, gold green in the creation of their national flags.

GNA