From Hockey Stadium to GH¢50 Note: How Theodosia Okoh Has Been Caught Up in Two Major Controversies

Theodosia Salome Okoh, the celebrated designer of Ghana’s national flag, remains one of the prominent figures in the country’s history, having made significant contributions to Ghana’s artistic and sporting development.

Her design of the national flag has secured her a lasting place in the country’s history and earned her widespread recognition.

However, the renowned artist has been caught up in two major public controversies during President John Dramani Mahama’s administrations, with incidents occurring in 2013 and 2026.

The two developments, which involved attempts to rename a national sports facility and questions surrounding her portrait on a newly introduced banknote, attracted considerable public attention.

Here is a look at the two incidents and how they unfolded.

1. The 2013 National Hockey Stadium renaming controversy

The first controversy emerged in July 2013 after the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) announced plans to rename the National Hockey Stadium, which honoured Theodosia Okoh, in memory of the late former President John Evans Atta Mills.

The proposal was made by the then Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, as part of activities marking the first anniversary of Mills’ death.

However, the announcement triggered dissatisfaction from Okoh and her family, who considered the proposed change an unfair disregard for her contributions to Ghana, particularly her role in developing hockey in the country.

Okoh had reportedly acquired the land on which the stadium was constructed and played an important role in promoting hockey. She also served as chairperson of the Ghana Hockey Association for several years.

The proposed renaming subsequently attracted public criticism, forcing the authorities to reverse the decision.

President John Mahama later apologised to Okoh and personally visited her at home to express his regret over the development.

2. The 2026 GH¢50 banknote portrait controversy

Thirteen years after the stadium naming dispute, Okoh’s name has once again become a subject of public discussion following the unveiling of Ghana’s new Cedi Heritage Series on November 12, 2026.

Her portrait was selected for the GH¢50 denomination as part of an initiative to recognise distinguished Ghanaians whose contributions have influenced the country’s history, culture and development.

However, the choice of photograph used for the banknote quickly became controversial after Dr Eddie Obeng, a Ghanaian academic identified as her nephew, alleged that the image was actually that of his mother rather than his aunt.

In a LinkedIn post, Obeng explained that he was initially pleased to learn that his aunt had been recognised on the new currency.

However, his excitement reportedly turned to surprise after examining the portrait and concluding that it resembled his mother, who is known for being Ghana’s first woman to obtain a PhD.

The allegation sparked further debate, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin also criticising the government over the selection process.

Afenyo-Markin questioned the level of scrutiny applied to the portrait, arguing that the alleged error raised concerns about the government’s attention to detail, particularly given the significance of the national currency.

The Bank of Ghana, however, has defended the image, maintaining that it was developed using three authentic photographs of Theodosia Okoh.

According to the central bank, two of the photographs were taken when Okoh was younger, while the third captured her at a later stage in life.

The images were subsequently combined to create a portrait that reflected her appearance as a mature woman while retaining her family resemblance.

The Bank of Ghana further disclosed that it was engaging members of Okoh’s family to explain how the portrait was developed and address the concerns surrounding its authenticity.

Source: https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Two-times-Theodosia-Okoh-has-been-embroiled-in-controversies-under-Mahama-governments-2061172

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