Meet the designer of Ghana's coat of arms, Nii 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. He was one of Ghana's leading artists.

Kotei was born on 24 May 1915, at La, near Accra, and belonged to the Ga tribe and trained as a surveyor. He began his elementary education at Dodowa and continued at Bisa, Apenkwa, and the La Presbyterian Middle School. He was offered a scholarship to study at Achimota School in Accra, Ghana, due to his brilliant academic performance, particularly in Fine Art.

Later received a scholarship to study art at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art from 1949 to 1952. He returned to Ghana and worked with the Survey Department and later with the Victoriaborg Press, Accra, Ghana.

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.

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.

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. 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. He received several other awards.