Portrait on new GH¢50 note is not Theodosia Okoh – Nephew

A nephew of Ghana’s national flag designer, Theodosia Okoh, has raised concerns over the portrait featured on the new GH¢50 banknote, insisting that the woman depicted is his mother, Dr Letitia Obeng.

Dr. Eddie Obeng, a Ghanaian academic, said he initially welcomed news that his aunt would be honoured on one of the Bank of Ghana’s new Heritage Series banknotes.

However, after taking a closer look at the note, he realised that the portrait appeared to be that of his mother instead.

In a post on LinkedIn, he recounted his reaction, saying: “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,” he wrote. “You can’t make it up.”

Dr Letitia Obeng is a renowned zoologist widely recognised as the first Ghanaian woman to obtain a doctorate.

She was the sister of Theodosia Okoh, making the alleged mix-up a matter of particular interest to the family.

Prof Obeng said the discovery had left him amused, adding that it had given him “a wry smile on my face that won’t go away, and occasionally I shake my head or giggle.”

Theodosia Okoh, a teacher and artist, designed Ghana’s national flag, featuring the red, gold and green colours and the black star. The flag was adopted when the country gained independence in 1957.

Beyond her contribution to Ghana’s national identity, Okoh played a significant role in promoting hockey in the country. She died in April 2015.