Flying Theodosia Okoh's Flag At Half-Mast : Why Must Gov't Wait For A Journalist Before Making An Order

My question is must it take an ace broadcaster, Kwami Sefa Kayi, Chairman General of Peace FM's flagship Morning show "Kokrokoo" to launch a passionate appeal for State authorities to announce that all flags be hoisted at half-mast to honour the person who made the flags?

I always hear politicians say in the most clichéd fashion that "talk is cheap"; however, people like me with such a big mouth believe otherwise that talk is the best tool to administer our concerns and address pertinent issues.

Sometimes, I am made to believe that indeed if you want to hide something from an African, a Ghanaian for that matter; put it in writing. This notion is widely expressed to mean Ghanaians simply don't enjoy reading!

But I beg to differ...Ghanaians do read; a more basis for putting my thoughts in this article in hope that concerned citizens would take some minutes off their time to read.

Well, to those who are still clueless about my style of writing; continue to fix your eyes and mind on this piece. I believe you'll understand it when I'm done writing.

She toiled with our forefathers to protect Ghana’s independence. She was selfless and nationalistic. One of the few heroes the country can boast of.

Yes, very few heroes since the 21st Century leaders of this nation have proven beyond doubt that their interest lies in how many cars and houses they can boast of while serving mother Ghana.

Madam Theodosia Okoh is the designer of Ghana's national flag and the one who discovered a pitch for Ghana hockey games.

Madam Theodosia Okoh superbly crafted and designed the flag that symbolizes Ghana and has since become the sensation for other African countries.

Red, Gold and Green colours could not have best suit any flag than Ghana's. Red signifies the blood that our great fathers and mothers shed to sustain generations.

Gold represents the country's natural resources; which have shamefully been exploited by today's greedy leaders.

Green also symbolizes our rich Agric produce; but I'm yet to know the real relevance and value of our major cash crop, Cocoa.

In fact, we cannot go past Madam Theodosia Okoh when we talk about Ghana's true and gallant heroes. The ones who understood patriotism and lived it to the fullest!

Despite the indelible contributions and efforts by Madam Theodosia Okoh, nature took its course on Sunday, April 19, 2015.

Madam Theodosia Okoh passed on to glory this Sunday at the Narh Bita Hospital at the age of 93.

May her soul rest in perfect peace!

Now, what can we say when our eyes are tired of crying and our hearts are full to overflow its banks with sorrows? What can we do when those who are supposed to know better sit unconcerned even after a prominent member of Ghana's economy has passed away?

Even a little child will have the right answers to these questions.

While she lived, our so-called leaders and Accra Mayor were struggling hard to deprive her of her joy. Our so-called "I pledge myself to the service of Ghana" leaders failed to pledge themselves also to keeping a bright image of themselves.

While alive, the hockey facility discovered by the late Madam Theodosia Okoh, which also bore her name; became the side attraction for the Accra Mayor as he gingered up to remove her name from such monumental facility.

This courted controversy everywhere as several socio-economic pundits intervened to maintain her name on the facility.

One would have thought that this would be LESSON 1 for our leaders but…

Wait till you hear the ridiculous blunder that the Government of Ghana has further committed seemingly to blot out the memory of the late Madam Theodosia Okoh.

"
Flying the flag at half-staff is an area of flag etiquette which is primarily issued by the President or the Vice-President upon the death of principal figures as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law,” a piece from Peacefmonline.com.

In view of this, I strongly believe I’m indeed not the only person that expected that following the departure of a national figure like the legendary Theodosia Okoh to the celestial world, the country's flags will fly at half-mast to honour her memory.

My question is must it take an ace broadcaster, Kwami Sefa Kayi, Chairman General of Peace FM's flagship Morning show "Kokrokoo" to launch a passionate appeal for State authorities to announce that all flags be hoisted at half-mast to honour the person who made the flags?

Must it take media practitioners and some friends of the media to front what sounds like a "campaign" for flags to go half-staff before the Presidency issues a statement to that effect?

What sort of leadership is Ghana experiencing now?

Leaders who think nothing else about the nation apart from their stomachs, leaders who enjoy fame other than true nationalism, leaders whose sycophantic tendencies are the most clear in everything that they do or engage in.

Leaders who only call for a forum and receive the kind of attention they never got themselves prepared for. Leaders who engage in a forum only for the audience to hoot at them or Leaders who travel off the shores of Ghana more than tourists all over the world!!

I have a dream that a time will come that former Presidents of Ghana may have to beg for their names to be remembered while alive and when they die.

I have a dream that someday a President may mourn in his casket because the government of the day could not simply order for flags to fly at half-mast to honour his memory.

Oh mother Ghana! I wonder how you feel right now! Oh mother Ghana, be patient with our leaders.

(And to those of you ready to make a sound argument that Government actions are undergo a protocol procedure or better still pass through bureaucratic processes; so perhaps the Government of Ghana was waiting for the family of the late Madam Theodosia Okoh to officially call on the Presidency before any order could go for flags to fly at half-mast...I also say perhaps the Presidency could have treated the deceased same as the late President and have the flags go half-staff even before any family official visit to the Presidency.

Wouldn't this have been just nice to do in memory of the late Ghanaian legend?)


Maybe, just maybe there might be a Savior someday who will do the right thing but would not wait till is told the right thing.

Food for thought..........!!!