Amon Kotei

Nii Amon Kotei was a Ghanaian sculptor, painter, musician, surveyor, and graphic artist who died on October 17, 2011. Kotei is best remembered and celebrated as the designer of Ghana's coat of arms. He is also among the most important historical figures in Ghana. He was a leading artist in Ghana.

Kotei received a scholarship to Achimota School before going on to study art at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art from 1949 to 1952. During WWII, he was a member of the Royal West African Frontier Force and worked in the Army's Cartographic Division, drawing maps and plans for soldiers on the front lines.

On March 4, 1957, he was responsible for the creation of Ghana's National Coat of Arms. The British colonial government commissioned Kotei to replace the older badge, which depicted an elephant and a palm tree, two symbols used throughout British West African colonies. The Coat of Arms was sent to the Queen's College of Heraldry for approval after his initial design was approved by the government .

The Ghanaian coat of arms, which appears on all official government letterheads, consists of a shield divided into four quarters by a green St. George's Cross rimmed with gold.

Kotei passed away on October 17, 2011. Following his death, the Ghanaian parliament recognized his contributions to Ghanaian art and heraldry. He was awarded the State Honour of Grand Medal, Civil Division, Coat of Arms Design, which was presented to him on Friday, 7 March 1997, by then-president Jerry Rawlings.