TIG Post

Tag: Flags

  • NPP to fly flags at half-mast for 7 days to mourn death of S.B Kangbere

    NPP to fly flags at half-mast for 7 days to mourn death of S.B Kangbere

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed profound sorrow over the untimely death of Saabanye Basilide Kangbere, the Upper West regional chairman of the Party, who passed away on 7 June 2024.

    In a press statement signed by the general secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP extends its deepest condolences to his family, especially his wife, and children, and to the people of the Upper West Region for the loss of such a distinguished figure.

    As a tribute to his memory, the NPP has directed that all party flags fly at half-mast for the next seven days.

    Kangbere, affectionately known as “Chairman Heavy Weight” in political circles, has been the regional chairman since 2018 and previously served as a patron of the regional party.

    Kangbere’s journey to prominence began in Owlo, a small town in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa district of the Upper West Region, where he excelled in his Common Entrance Examinations.

    His academic prowess led him to the prestigious Daffiama Secondary School, followed by a distinguished performance in his sixth-form examinations.

    He furthered his education at a College of Education and later at the University of Ghana, where he majored in English.

    During his time at the University of Ghana, Kangbere developed a fervent passion for politics and social issues, joining student activist groups.

    As secretary of the Students Representatives Council, he collaborated with notable figures such as Frederick Worsemao Armah Blay from 1977 to 1978, opposing the imposition of the Union Government (UNIGOV) by the Supreme Military Council of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong. This resistance was crucial in preventing Ghana from becoming a non-party state.

    Beyond politics, Kangbere had a rich career in education and business, teaching in several deprived communities in the Upper West Region, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia.

    He also established several English teaching schools in Saudi Arabia, some of which remain operational today.

    A devoted Catholic, husband, father of five, and noble family man, Kangbere’s legacy is one of dedication, hard work, and profound impact.

  • US flags scarce on the market amid rising interest in traveling abroad

    US flags scarce on the market amid rising interest in traveling abroad

    On December 31, 2023, The Mirror conducted an investigation into several churches in the Ashanti Region and discovered a prophecy trend called “Flag akwankyerɛ,” prominently displayed on signboards of some churches.

    This trend involved the use of miniature flags representing countries that held prospects for Ghanaians aspiring for better opportunities abroad.

    The investigation revealed that certain prophets, likely fearing consequences from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, had resorted to using symbols to convey messages about the future of public figures or congregants.

    With attentive listening, it was observed that it was quite easy to decode which public figure was being referred to in these prophecies.

    The American flag, in particular, became scarce, with merchants at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra informing The Mirror that they had run out of stock.

    While flags of other countries were abundant, customers seeking the American flag were told it was sold out. It was discovered that many people purchased the American flag and traveled to Kumasi, where certain churches were believed to provide “guidance” (flag akwankyerɛ) for the night.

    A flag seller at Circle, Akwasi Osei, revealed to The Mirror that congregants were advised to purchase flags representing their dream countries on the night of December 31. It was believed that doing so could enable them to acquire visas to these countries in 2024.

    Osei mentioned some of the churches and disclosed that he had reserved an American flag for himself, intending not to sell it to anyone.

    “By 3 p.m., I’ll also be on a bus to Kumasi to attend one of these churches and wave my flag. Next year, I aim to be in America. We’ll leave Ghana for those who wish to stay here”.

    The smaller-sized flags were sold for GH¢5, while the larger ones were priced at GH¢50.

  • Queen’s funeral: Flags back at full-mast as mourning period ends

    Union jacks around the UK and the world had been flying at half-mast since the Queen’s death

    Flags on British government buildings around the world are flying at full-mast once again, as the period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II draws to a close.

    The Queen was buried in a private ceremony in Windsor on Monday evening, following a state funeral in London and military procession to Windsor Castle.

    But the Royal Family will continue to observe another week of mourning.

    Senior royals are not expected to carry out any public duties during this time.

    Flags at royal residences will remain at half-mast until 08:00 BST on 27 September – the day after their mourning period ends.

    Buckingham Palace has said royal household staff, representatives of the household on official duties and troops committed to ceremonial duties will also observe the extended mourning period.

    An intensive clean-up operation is under way after hundreds of thousands of people across the UK flocked to London to watch the Queen’s funeral.

    Council workers wearing black ribbons and bows were deployed on Monday evening to pick up litter and remove sand on roads around Westminster.

    Cleaners at Southwark Council in south London worked an extra 24 hours over the time mourners queued to visit the Queen lying-in-state – removing seven tonnes of rubbish in the process.

    Watch moments from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

    On Monday, world leaders and foreign royalty joined a 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey for the funeral, where the Dean of Westminster paid tribute to her “lifelong sense of duty”.

    Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby spoke of the affection so many people felt for the late monarch. “Few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen,” he added.

    About 100 presidents and heads of government were in the abbey – including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.

    Royal families from around the globe also attended – with kings, queens and emperors from Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia and Jordan present.

    The Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel.Reuters
    Thousands of people flocked to Windsor to catch a glimpse of the State Hearse driving to St George’s Chapel

    After the funeral, the Queen’s coffin was taken by gun carriage to Wellington Arch in London and then on to its final journey via funeral cortege, along a route that avoided motorways to allow as many as possible to pay their final respects.

    Many thousands of people lined the streets to see the procession taking her coffin to to Windsor Castle and a committal service.

    As a day of spectacle and mourning drew to a close, the UK’s longest-reigning monarch was laid to rest alongside her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh and in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, found inside St George’s Chapel in Windsor.

    The scale of the funeral and mourning arrangements over the 10-day period, which included a miles-long queue snaking along the south bank of the River Thames to see the Queen’s lying-in-state, led to what police described as “probably the biggest operation we’re likely to launch in the UK”.

    With thousands flocking into central London and dignitaries from around the world gathering to pay their respects, the funeral represented the “final and most complex phase” of the operation, the Metropolitan Police has said.

    Hundreds of thousands of people queued to visit the Queen lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, with some mourners waiting all night to pay tribute.

    Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said the government was crunching the final figures, but at least 250,000 people are estimated to have stood in line to pay their respects.

    She told BBC Breakfast: “The queue was phenomenal. It was a real team effort to enable people to have that moment to say goodbye. I want to thank everyone involved.”

    Police officersEPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
    Police officers from around the country were deployed to London to help keep the capital safe

    More than 3,000 officers from almost every force in the country were in London to help with the security for the funeral, including snipers stationed on rooftops and armed police, horseback teams and other specialist units patrolling the streets.

    As of 17:00 BST on Monday, 67 arrests had been made as part of the operation for a range of offences.

    The royal galleries will reopen later this week while the Royal Family continues mourning.

    The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace in central London, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh will all reopen to visitors on Thursday.

    Source: BBC