Symbols of Ghana

What is a symbol?

A symbol is something that stands for something else.

A red cross on a building means "hospital". A picture of a cup on a shop means "we sell drinks here". A thumbs-up means "good".

A country has symbols too. They stand for the whole country and all its people. When you see them, you think "Ghana!"

Ghana's most important symbols are the flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, the national pledge and the black star.

In this book you will learn what each one looks like, what it means, and how we show respect for it.

Our country, Ghana

Ghana is our country. It lies in West Africa, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Our capital city is Accra.

For many years, Ghana was ruled by Britain and was called the Gold Coast. On 6 March 1957, Ghana became independent. That means we began to rule ourselves. Ghana was the first country in Africa south of the Sahara to do this.

Our first leader was Dr Kwame Nkrumah. His statue stands in Accra.

Ghana's symbols were chosen around the time of independence, to show the world who we are.

The flag of Ghana

Look at our flag. It has three stripes, one above the other.

• The top stripe is red.
• The middle stripe is gold.
• The bottom stripe is green.

In the middle of the gold stripe is a black star with five points.

Red, gold and green are called the Pan-African colours. Many African countries use them. But the black star makes our flag special. No other country has a flag quite like it.

Red

The top stripe of our flag is red.

Red stands for the blood of the people who struggled and died so that Ghana could be free. Independence did not come easily. Many people were hurt or lost their lives while fighting for it.

When we see the red stripe, we remember them. We remember that our freedom was paid for.

Think: Why do you think red was chosen for this, and not another colour?

Try this: Find something red in your classroom. Hold it up and say, "Red is for the blood of those who fought for Ghana."

Gold

The middle stripe of our flag is gold.

Gold stands for the mineral wealth of Ghana. Our land is rich in gold. That is why the British called this place the Gold Coast. Ghana still mines a lot of gold today, as well as diamonds, bauxite and oil.

Gold also reminds us that Ghana is valuable, like a treasure.

Some people call the middle stripe "yellow". The proper name is gold.

Try this: Ask an older person: do they know anyone who has worked in a gold mine? Where are Ghana's gold mines?

Green

The bottom stripe of our flag is green.

Green stands for the forests and the rich farmland of Ghana. Our country grows cocoa, cassava, yam, plantain, maize, rice, oranges and much more.

Green is the colour of growing things. It reminds us that Ghana is full of life, and that our land feeds us.

Try this: Make a list of five things that grow in Ghana. Then say: "Green is for the forests and farms."

Now you know all three colours: red for blood, gold for minerals, green for forests.

The black star

In the centre of the gold stripe sits a five-pointed black star.

The black star is a symbol of African freedom. It is sometimes called the "lodestar of African freedom". A lodestar is a star that guides travellers. Ghana was the first to become independent, and the star says: "Follow us. Africa can be free."

The star is black because it stands for Black people everywhere, in Africa and across the world.

The black star is so important that Ghana's national football team is called the Black Stars.

Who designed the flag?

Our flag was designed by a Ghanaian woman named Theodosia Salome Okoh. She was a teacher and an artist.

In 1957, just before independence, she drew the flag with its three stripes and black star. Her design was chosen, and it was raised for the first time on Independence Day, 6 March 1957.

For two years, from 1964 to 1966, the gold stripe was changed to white. Then it was changed back to gold, and it has stayed that way ever since.

Mrs Okoh lived to the age of 92. Ghanaians remember her with pride.

Try this: draw the flag

Draw Ghana's flag in your exercise book.

1. Draw a rectangle, wider than it is tall.
2. Divide it into three equal stripes from top to bottom.
3. Colour the top stripe red.
4. Colour the bottom stripe green.
5. Colour the middle stripe gold (yellow is fine if you have no gold crayon).
6. In the middle of the gold stripe, draw a five-pointed star and colour it black.

Check: Is the red at the top? Is the green at the bottom? Is the star in the middle, not touching the red or green?

Now tell a friend what each colour means.

Where we see the flag

Ghana's flag flies in many places.

• At the top of a pole at school, raised at morning assembly.
• On government buildings like the courts and the Jubilee House.
• At the airport, so visitors know they have arrived in Ghana.
• At football matches, waved by fans of the Black Stars.
• On Independence Day, on cars, houses and shops all over the country.

Our flag also flies at the United Nations in New York, alongside the flags of every other country in the world.

Try this: Count how many Ghana flags you see this week.

Respecting the flag

Because the flag stands for all of Ghana, we treat it with care.

• Raise it in the morning and lower it at sunset.
• Never let it touch the ground.
• Keep it clean and replace it when it is torn or faded.
• Stand still and face the flag when it is being raised.
• When a great person dies, the flag is flown at half-mast, halfway down the pole, to show we are sad.

At Ama's school, two pupils are chosen each week to raise the flag. They walk slowly, hold it carefully and never let it drag. It is an honour.

The coat of arms

The coat of arms is Ghana's official badge. You will see it on government papers, on your parents' passports, on coins, and above the doors of government offices.

It was designed by a Ghanaian artist named Amon Kotei and first used on 4 March 1957, two days before independence.

It has a shield in the middle, two golden eagles holding the shield, a black star on top, and a ribbon at the bottom with Ghana's motto.

Every part of it tells a story. Let us look at each piece.

The shield

The shield is divided into four parts by a green cross with gold edges. Each part has a picture.

Top left: A sword and a linguist's staff crossed over each other. The staff is carried by a chief's spokesman. Together they stand for our chiefs and traditional leaders.

Top right: A castle on the sea. This is Osu Castle in Accra, where the government once sat. It stands for the national government.

Bottom left: A cocoa tree. It stands for farming, which feeds Ghana and earns money.

Bottom right: A gold mine. It stands for Ghana's mineral wealth.

In the centre of the cross is a lion, a sign of our ties with the Commonwealth.

Eagles, lion and star

Look around the shield.

On each side stands a golden eagle with its wings spread. Eagles are strong and see far. Each eagle wears a ribbon with a black star around its neck. The eagles protect Ghana.

On top of the shield sits a black star with a gold edge. It is the same lodestar of African freedom that we see on the flag.

The eagles stand on a ribbon at the bottom. On that ribbon are three words. They are Ghana's motto. Turn the page to read them.

Freedom and Justice

The words on the ribbon are "Freedom and Justice". This is Ghana's motto. A motto is a short saying that tells what a country believes in.

Freedom means we are free to rule ourselves, to speak, to work, to worship and to go where we wish.

Justice means everyone is treated fairly. The law is the same for the rich and the poor, the big and the small.

Try this: Think of a time when someone treated you fairly. How did it feel? That feeling is why justice matters.

Say the motto out loud: "Freedom and Justice!"

The coat of arms around us

Once you know the coat of arms, you will see it everywhere.

• On the gate of Cape Coast Castle and other national places.
• On the front of a Ghanaian passport.
• On coins and some banknotes.
• On letters from the government and on court papers.
• On the walls of ministries and the Jubilee House.

It says: "This belongs to Ghana. This is official."

Try this: Ask at home if anyone has a coin or document with the coat of arms. Find the eagles, the star and the motto.

The national anthem

A national anthem is a country's special song. Ghana's anthem is called "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana".

We sing it at morning assembly, on Independence Day, before football matches, and at important events. When the Black Stars win, the whole stadium sings it together.

The anthem has three stanzas, or verses. Most of the time we sing the first one.

Listen to it now, then learn the words on the next page.

The first stanza

Here are the words of the first stanza. Read them slowly.

God bless our homeland Ghana, And make our nation great and strong, Bold to defend forever The cause of Freedom and of Right; Fill our hearts with true humility, Make us cherish fearless honesty, And help us to resist oppressors' rule With all our will and might for evermore.

Try this: Read the stanza aloud twice. Then close the book and see how many lines you can remember. Practise one line a day until you know them all.

What the anthem means

Some of the words in the anthem are big. Here is what they mean.

Homeland — the country where we belong.

Bold to defend — brave enough to protect.

The cause of Freedom and of Right — the fight for freedom and for doing what is right.

Humility — not being proud or boastful.

Cherish fearless honesty — love telling the truth, even when it is hard.

Resist oppressors' rule — refuse to be ruled unfairly by anyone.

So the anthem is a prayer. It asks God to make Ghana strong, and to make Ghanaians brave, humble and honest.

Who wrote the anthem?

The music of our anthem was written by Philip Gbeho, a Ghanaian musician and teacher. He composed it in 1957, in time for independence.

The words we sing today were chosen in 1966, after the first words were changed.

Mr Gbeho taught music at Achimota School. He wanted an anthem that Ghanaians could sing with pride. When you sing it today, you are singing his tune, nearly seventy years later.

Try this: Hum the tune of the anthem without the words. Can your friend guess what you are humming?

Standing for the anthem

When the anthem is played, we show respect.

• Stand up straight and still.
• Face the flag if there is one.
• Take off your cap or hat.
• Stop talking and stop playing.
• Sing the words clearly. Do not mumble.
• Put your right hand over your heart if your school does this.

Kofi once kept chatting during the anthem at assembly. His teacher said, "The anthem is for all of Ghana. When you talk, you are saying Ghana does not matter to you." Kofi never did it again.

The national pledge

The national pledge is a promise that Ghanaians make to their country. We say it after the anthem at assembly and on national days.

Here it is:

I promise on my honour to be faithful and loyal to Ghana my motherland. I pledge myself to the service of Ghana with all my strength and with all my heart. I promise to hold in high esteem our heritage, won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers; and I pledge myself in all things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana. So help me God.

What the pledge means

The pledge has big words too. Let us break it down.

On my honour — I truly mean this.

Faithful and loyal — I will stick by Ghana and not turn against it.

Motherland — Ghana is like a mother to us.

Service — doing useful things for Ghana, not just for myself.

Hold in high esteem our heritage — respect the things our ancestors passed down to us.

Blood and toil of our fathers — the hard work and sacrifice of those who came before.

Uphold and defend the good name of Ghana — behave well, so people think well of Ghana.

The pledge is a promise. When you say it, mean it.

Worked example: morning assembly

Let us follow Abena through morning assembly on Monday.

Step 1: The bell rings. Abena lines up with her class and stands straight.

Step 2: Two pupils raise the flag. Abena watches it go up and does not talk.

Step 3: The school sings the anthem. Abena takes off her cap and sings every word.

Step 4: The school recites the pledge. Abena says it clearly, thinking about what it means.

Step 5: The headteacher speaks. Then everyone goes to class.

Abena has shown respect for three symbols in five minutes: the flag, the anthem and the pledge.

The black star everywhere

The black star is on the flag and on the coat of arms. But it is in many other places too.

• The national football team is the Black Stars.
• In Accra there is a huge open space called Black Star Square, also known as Independence Square. Parades are held there on Independence Day.
• Ghana's first shipping company was called the Black Star Line.
• The star appears on the Independence Arch and the Black Star Gate.

When Ghanaians abroad see a black star, they feel at home.

The Independence Arch and the Black Star Gate

At Black Star Square stand two famous monuments.

The Independence Arch was built to celebrate independence in 1957. It carries the words "Freedom and Justice" and the date "AD 1957". It faces the sea.

The Black Star Gate is a tall arch with a big black star on top. It is one of the most photographed places in Ghana.

If you visit Accra, ask to see them. Stand under the star and think about what it means.

Try this: Find Accra on a map of Ghana. Then find where you live. How far is it?

Independence Day

Every year on 6 March, Ghana celebrates Independence Day. It is a public holiday, so schools and offices close.

In Accra and in the regional capitals, there are parades. Soldiers, police, schoolchildren and bands march past. The president gives a speech. The flag is raised and the anthem is sung.

In towns and villages, people wear red, gold and green. Some paint their faces with the flag. Children march in their school uniforms.

Try this: Ask your family what they did last Independence Day. Did your school march?

More things that stand for Ghana

The flag, coat of arms, anthem, pledge and black star are the official symbols. But other things make people think of Ghana too.

• Kente cloth, with its bright woven patterns.
• Adinkra symbols, like the Sankofa bird that looks back to learn from the past.
• The cedi, our money.
• Cocoa, which Ghana grows for the whole world.
• Highlife music and jollof rice.

These are not official symbols, but they are part of who we are.

Try this: If you could add one more symbol for Ghana, what would it be? Draw it.

Try this: symbol hunt

This week, be a detective. Hunt for Ghana's symbols around you.

Make a list in your exercise book. For each one you find, write where you saw it.

• The flag — on a pole? on a shirt? on a trotro?
• The coat of arms — on a coin? on a document? on a building?
• The black star — on a football jersey? on a sign?
• The anthem — did you hear it on the radio? at assembly?
• The words "Freedom and Justice" — anywhere?

At the end of the week, compare your list with a friend's. Who found the most?

One flag, many people

Ghana has more than thirty million people. We speak many languages: Twi, Ga, Ewe, Dagbani, Fante, Hausa and many more. We follow different religions. We live in cities, towns and villages.

But we all have one flag, one anthem and one pledge.

That is what the symbols are for. They remind us that even though we are different, we are all Ghanaians. When the Black Stars score, the whole country cheers in every language at once.

Think: What is something that everyone in your class shares, even though you are all different?

Being a good citizen

The pledge asks us to serve Ghana. You do not have to be a grown-up to do that. Here are small ways to be a good citizen now.

• Keep Ghana clean. Put rubbish in a bin. Do not throw it in the gutter.
• Be honest. The anthem asks for "fearless honesty".
• Respect others. Treat everyone fairly, as the motto says.
• Work hard at school. An educated Ghana is a strong Ghana.
• Look after public things. School desks, taps and books belong to everyone.

Kwame picks up litter in his school compound every Friday. That is service to Ghana.

Try this: a symbol for your class

Now design a symbol for your own class, just as Theodosia Okoh and Amon Kotei designed symbols for Ghana.

1. Choose two or three colours. Say what each colour stands for.
2. Choose a picture that shows something your class is proud of.
3. Write a short motto of two or three words.
4. Draw it all on one page.

Share your design with the class. Vote for the one you like best, and put it on the wall.

Remember: a good symbol is simple, so everyone can draw it and remember it.

Mistakes to watch for

Wrong order of stripes. Red is at the top, gold in the middle, green at the bottom. Not the other way round.

Star in the wrong place. The black star sits in the middle of the gold stripe only.

Calling gold "yellow". The colour is gold, for Ghana's minerals.

Mixing up the motto. It is "Freedom and Justice", not "Justice and Freedom".

Talking during the anthem. Stand still and sing.

Letting the flag touch the ground. Hold it high.

Try this: A pupil drew the flag with green on top. What would you tell them?

What we learned

Well done! Here is everything from this book.

• A symbol stands for something bigger than itself.
• Ghana's flag is red, gold and green with a black star. Red is for blood, gold for minerals, green for forests. It was designed by Theodosia Okoh.
• The coat of arms has a shield, two eagles, a black star and the motto "Freedom and Justice". It was designed by Amon Kotei.
• The anthem is "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana", with music by Philip Gbeho.
• The pledge is our promise to serve Ghana.
• The black star stands for African freedom.
• We show respect by standing, singing and caring for the flag.

Learn more

• Wikipedia: Flag of Ghana — the history and meaning of the flag
• Wikipedia: Coat of arms of Ghana — every part of the coat of arms explained
• Wikipedia: God Bless Our Homeland Ghana — the full words of all three stanzas
• Government of Ghana — the official website of Ghana's government
• National Geographic Kids: Ghana — facts and pictures about our country

Watch more

Think about it

1. If you could change one colour on the flag, would you? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think the black star was put on the flag, the coat of arms, and the football team?
3. What does "Freedom and Justice" mean in your own words?
4. Which line of the anthem do you like best? Why?
5. What is one promise in the pledge that you can keep this week?