Amon Kotei

Nii Amon Kotei (24 May 1915 – 17 October 2011) was a Ghanaian artist (sculpture, painter and musician) and surveyor. He is also the acclaimed designer of the coat of arms of Ghana.[1] He was one of Ghana's leading artists.[2][3]

Amon Kotei
Amon Kotei designer of the Ghanaian Coat of Arms
Born(1915-05-24)May 24, 1915
La, near Accra, Ghana
DiedOctober 17, 2011(2011-10-17) (aged 96)
NationalityGhanaian
EducationAchimota School
Alma materLondon School of Printing and Graphic Art
Known forDesigner of the coat of arms of Ghana

Life and career

Kotei was born on 24 May 1915, at La, near Accra, and belonged to the Ga tribe and trained as a surveyor. He was a distinguished artist and designed the National Coat of Arms on 4 March 1957. He was commissioned to do the design by Ghana's first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the then-British colonial administration as independence drew near in 1957.[4]

The Ghana coat of arms, found on all government official letter heads, is composed of a shield, divided into four quarters by a green St. George's Cross, rimmed with gold.

He died on 17 October 2011, after which the parliament of Ghana paid tribute to him.[5][6]

He studied under a scholarship at Achimota School and later received a scholarship to study art at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art from 1949 to 1952. He also fought for the Royal West African Frontier Force during World War II. and also worked in the Cartographic Division of the Army. He drew maps and plans for use by soldiers on the war front.[7] He also taught in Achimota School.

He was awarded the State Honour of Grand Medal, Civil Division, Coat of Arms Design presented to him on Friday, 7 March 1997, by then-president Jerry Rawlings.[8] He received several other awards.[9][10]

References
  1. "Amon Kotei, Designer of the Ghana Coat Of Arms". Ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  2. "Amon Kotei". Hourglassgallery.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  3. "La Traditional Council Honours Renowned Artist". Ghanamma.com. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  4. kwajo (19 October 2011). "Ghana's Coat of Arms designer Amon Kotei dead". Ghanatoghana.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  5. "Parliament pays tribute to Amon Kotei". ModernGhana.com. 16 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  6. "Parliament Pays Tribute To Amon Kotei". Ghana.gov.gh. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  7. http://blogs.africa-works.com/joseph/2011/10/20/rest-in-peace-amon-kotei/%5B%5D
  8. Ghana, Go (19 December 2010). "newswatch blog: 95 years Amon Kotei Honoured". Newswatchmedia.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  9. "Veep, Parliament Eulogise Amon Kotey | The Ghanaian Times". Newtimes.com.gh. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  10. "National Commission On Culture". Ghanaculture.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
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