Ghana Month: 16 Things You Didn't Know About The Man Who Designed Ghana's Coat Of Arms

Mr. Amon Kotei, the man who designed Ghana’s Coat of Arms on 4th March 1957, two days before Ghana’s Independence is one of the personalities being remembered as Ghana awaits the 66 Independence Day on Monday, 6, March 2023.

The Ghana Report in retrospect looks at artworks made after political Independence. It settled on Mr. Amon Kotei, the man who designed Ghana’s Coat of Arms.

Mr. Amon Kotei was born on May 24th, 1915, and even though he is dead and gone, his name rekindles many hearts due to the special place his art wares occupy in the nation’s history. There are other facts about Mr. Kotei that are generally unknown.

Below are 16 facts you didn’t know about Mr. Amon Kotei.

He was 100 percent Ga because both parents were Ga people from La in the Greater Accra Region.

He had only one philosophy which is  “God will work with you and not for you”.

He was a sculptor.

He was a painter.

Singing was his hobby (friends mostly call him a musician).

He was a surveyor.

He was a professional graphic artist.

He married a Ga woman by the name of Madam Sarah Addoley Addo from La.

He gave birth to twelve children (7 males and 5 females).

He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

He was enlisted in the Royal West African Frontier Force (the Army) during World War II in 1942 as a Cartographical Artist.

He was once recommended and awarded a scholarship for advanced study at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art in the United Kingdom.

He designed the School crest for Labone Senior High School and NUNGUA Senior High School.

He earned State Honor of Grand Medal (GM) – Civil Division / Coat of Arms Design Presented in 1997.

He was awarded Living Legend Series in September 2003.

He died in 2011 at age 96.

Ghana’s Coat Of Arm



Composition 

The Ghana Coat of Arms is composed of a shield, divided into four quarters by a green St. George’s Cross, rimmed with gold. The followings are the symbols in the quarters and their meanings.

Crossed linguist staff and ceremonial sword on a blue background.

Position: Top left-hand quarter. It represents local administration.

A heraldic castle on a heraldic is seen on a light blue background.

Position: Top right-hand quarter. Represents National Government.

A Cocoa Tree

Position: Bottom left-hand quarter. Represents the Agricultural wealth of the country.

A Mine Shaft

Position: Bottom right-hand quarter. Represents the mineral wealth of the country.

A Gold Lion

Position: In the center of the green St. George’s Cross. Represents the continued link between Ghana and the Commonwealth.

Black five-pointed star rimmed with gold stands on the wreath of red, gold, and green colours.

Position: Surmounting (On top of) the shield. It represents the lodestar of African Freedom.

Two Eagles, around each of whose necks hangs a black star suspended from a ribbon of Ghana colours – red, gold, and green.

Position: Supporting the shield (Coat of Arms). This signifies a protector with strength, and very clear and attentive eyes keeping watch over the country.

Finally, it has Ghana’s motto FREEDOM AND JUSTICE placed under the shield.