Nii Amon Kotei born on the 24 May 1915 was a renowned Ghanaian sculptor, painter, musician, surveyor, and graphic artist. He is best remembered and celebrated as the designer of the “Coat of Arms” of Ghana and was regarded as one of the nation’s leading artists.

Kotei earned a scholarship to attend Achimota School. He later received another scholarship to study at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art, where he trained from 1949 to 1952.

During World War II, Kotei served in the Royal West African Frontier Force. He was assigned to the Cartographic Division of the Army, where he worked on drawing maps and plans used by soldiers on the front lines.

Kotei’s most significant and lasting contribution was the creation of Ghana’s national coat of arms, designed on 4th March 1957, just days before the country gained independence. He was commissioned by the British colonial government to replace the old badge, which featured an elephant and a palm tree—symbols commonly used across British West African colonies. Following his initial design, the coat of arms was reviewed and approved by the Queen’s College of Heraldry in the United Kingdom. The final design features a shield divided into four quarters by a green St. George’s Cross rimmed with gold. Today, the emblem is found on all official government documents and represents the sovereignty and heritage of Ghana.

In recognition of his monumental contribution, Kotei was awarded the State Honour of Grand Medal (Civil Division) on 7 March 1997 by then late President Jerry John Rawlings. He also received several other awards for his artistic and national contributions.

After his death on 17th October 2011, the Ghanaian Parliament formally acknowledged his impact on Ghanaian art and heraldry, solidifying his legacy as a national icon.

Reference: Wikipedia