Flag of Ghana
Modeled on the flag of Ghana was the flag of Ethiopia, whose color rankings were reversed. Ghana became independent as the first colony in Africa after the Second World War and its first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a leading figure of Pan-Africanism, the idea of a politically united Africa. Many others, later become independent African states adopted this flag as a model and chose the same colors to bring the Pan-African idea expressed. On a call in their local newspaper towards the flag was designed by the Ghanaian Theodosia Salome Okoh. In the invitation it was said: " The flag should be original and contain motifs with which many inhabitants of the country can relate to. "
Description and significance
The national flag consists of three horizontal stripes in the pan-African colors of red -yellow-green. The yellow stripe is covered in the center with a black star. Okoh declared its color choice as follows: "In terms of the geography of Ghana, I chose the three colors red, gold and green. Ghana lies in the tropics and is blessed with rich vegetation. The color of gold refers to the mineral wealth and Red commemorates those who have worked for the independence of the country or died. And the fünfspitzige star is the symbol of African emancipation and unity in the struggle against colonialism. "
According to the official description Red recalls the blood that was shed in the struggle for freedom, yellow symbolizes the country's wealth (the name of the former colony "Gold Coast" pointed out already ) and Green stands for the forests and fields of the country. The black five-pointed star in the center of the flag is considered lodestar of African freedom. He is often misrepresented: The star should touch the upper and the lower strip.
Bolivia uses the same tricolor without star and with an aspect ratio other than its national flag.
History of the National Flag
Used between 1877 and 1957, the British colony of the Gold Coast, ancestors of today's Ghana, a typical British colonial flag: Dark blue with the Union Jack in the canton ( upper left corner ) and the emblem of the colony at the bottom right. The east of present-day Ghana was until 1914 part of the German colony of Togoland. For Togoland there were in 1914 a proposal for its own flag of the colony. However, it was never implemented due to the First World War.
On March 6, 1957, the flag still used was introduced with independence.
Ghanaian flag was the template for the Ghana -Guinea Union ( Union of African States) from November 28, 1958. It differed from the Ghanaian flag, except that it contained two stars. After the accession of Mali in April 1961 the Union was added a third star, for more ( never was ) accessions, the number of stars should be increased accordingly. 1962 ended the project.
On January 1, 1964, the yellow strip was based on the party flag of the ruling Convention People's Party replaced by a white. Some time both flags were used side by side. After the fall of the government of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the old flag of 1957 was introduced on February 28, 1966 again.
Design for a flag of Togoland, 1914
2:3 Flag of Ghana, 1957-1958
2:3 Flag of the Union of African States, November 1958-April 1961
2:3 Flag of the Union of African States, April 1961-1962
2:3 Flag of Ghana, 1962-1964
2:3? National Flag, 1964-1966
2:3 Flag of Ghana, since February 28, 1966
Flags of ethnic groups
Flag of the Ewe
More flags of Ghana
2:3 Flag of the civil aviation
2:3 Flag of the Air Force
2:3? Flag of the Navy ( Seekriegsflagge )
2:3 Flag of the President
Swell
Main sources
- Whitney Smith, Ottfried Neubecker: The characters of men and nations. Our World in banners and flags. Reich Verlag, Luzern, 1975, ISBN 3-7243-0115-4.
- Flags of the World - Ghana ( English)