An anonymous student designed the first flag of Mfantsipim to express the school’s esprit de corps.

 This was during the period that Rev. W. T. Balmer was at the head of the institution.

At a very impressive ceremony on 3rd June, 1910, John Mensah Sarbah, the Ghanaian nationalist, had the singular honour of unfurling this flag. It had rich red background with the word “Mfantsipim” emblazoned and, with the Union Jack ensconced at an upper corner.

The students were asked to ingrain symbolism of the flag in their minds and “never tarnish or stain it through dishonour or by means of any dishonourable act”.

 Indeed, as part of imbibing the traditions of the School, students then were expected to be mindful always of the School’s Motto – ‘Dwen Hwe Kan’, which inculcated thoughtfulness and foresight and to so, equip themselves as to be a credit to the School and society. The intent was that when they went out to say they were trained by the School that ALONE sufficiently guaranteed good moral character and high intellectual endowment. Further, to inculcate in the students the spirit symbolized by this special flag, the students were asked to use the military fashion to give three salutes at the flag post.

 It has been difficult to find out when and possibly why this practice was stopped or fell off the school’s discipline code. However, in the last few years, a flag of black and red stripes has been used.

 In consideration of the collective will to strengthen the Mfantsipim brand, it became necessary to launch a competition amongst students and Old Boys to select a new flag for the School.

The winning entry was submitted by a group of Old Boys at the KNUST, under the name TEAM TAK, whose membership are Messrs. Ekow Aggrey-Mensah, Yaw Kuffour Sarbeng, Edem Kwame Yankah, David Kwantwi-Mensah, and Gilbert Benjamin Cudjoe.

The meaning of the elements in the flag:-

 The BLACK colour represents the African, while the RED colour represents his blood and sacrifices.

 The left section of the flag has eight rectangles to symbolize the ‘Faithful Eight’. Its location on the flag represents integral part of the origin or beginnings of the School; and just as one reads from left-to-right and top-downwards, the first RED rectangle continues to the right and downwards to represent the CONTINUATION of Mfantsipim’s Heritage, Traditions, History and Legacies that run through the blood of all who have passed and continue to pass through the Hills of Kwabotwe.

 The crest rests on a RED background to highlight the enormous responsibility present as well as future generations carry towards fulfilling the dreams, prophesies and aspirations of the founding fathers for Ghana, Africa and humanity, whilst the WHITE border depicts new limitless future, new opportunities, new global possibilities and new uncharted destinies for the School and its graduates.

 This new flag therefore is to re-establish a commitment to reinforce the esprit de corps of the School; and renew the understanding “never tarnish or stain it through dishonour or by means of any dishonourable act”.

Thus, this June, more than a century after the first flag was unveiled by John Mensah, we will have another opportunity to launch Mfantsipim into a new era of enhanced relevance of the School to the advancement of Ghana, Africa and humanity with the unveiling of this flag this month, June 2014.

The new flag will be formally unveiled at the School on Thursday, 19th June, 2014 by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces, Vice Admiral Matthew Quashie (MOBA 1970) under the theme: “ENERGIZING MFANTSIPIM’S ESPRIT DE CORPS FOR NEW CHALLENGES OF CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE”.

[The writer is a member of Mfantsipim School Board of Governors and Chairman of the Development Planning Committee]