Ghana Coat of Arms Black and White Picture and Meaning
Each country has a herald; coat of arms that distinctively identifies it. Ghana is one such state. The Ghana coat of arms, which is often seen in all official government letterheads, draws its inspiration from the Republic of Ghana.
Who designed Ghana’s coat of arms?
As Ghana’s independence was approaching in 1957, Ghana had to cut ties with the colonial rule. That included wielding its coat of arms. The first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah commissioned a renowned artist Mr. Amon Kotei to design Ghana National coat of arms which was unveiled on March 4, 1957.
Mr. Akotei, born May 24, 1915, in Accra, Ghana; had diverse experience in art. He had a passion for sculpture, music, and painting. A Second World War veteran who served in the Royal West African Frontier force, he would draw maps with which the soldiers would use during the war.
He studied under scholarships at Achimota School, a school he later came to teach. Then later between 1949 and 1952, he majored in art under a scholarship at the London school of printing and Graphic Art.
He was honored after his death on October 17, 2011, by the Ghanaian parliament.
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What is the meaning of Ghana’s coat of arms?
Having known who designed Ghana’s coat of arms, here is what the design means.
Many times, the coat of arms draws its inspiration from its surrounding; in this context; Ghana. The leading Ghanaian artist Akotei designed the herald to contain 4 quarters.
Quarter 1: A sword inter-crossed with a staff. Ghana’s traditional leadership was based on chiefdom ship. A staff was part of the royal ornaments wielded by linguists and a sword by the chief. They are a symbol of the traditional Ghana leadership; authority.
Quarter 2: The castle; often termed Osu castle has a history of Ghana having changed hands for centuries since its establishment in the 1660s. It is a symbol of national Ghanaian Government.
Quarter 3: A country’s agricultural wealth is often represented by the main economic crop in it. Ghana is rich in Cacao and thus the cacao tree in the third quarter.
Quarter 4: Ghana’s mineral resources are abundant and so were they during the design of the Ghana coat of arms. The gold mine in the fourth quarter symbolizes Ghana’s rich mineral resources.
A green St. Georges Cross which holds the four quarters in place and with a golden lion in it, represents Ghana’s willingness not to alienate itself from the Commonwealth of Nations.
The black star crested on a wreath symbolizes Africa as a whole and in particular, Ghana.
Keeping the shield in place are two Tawny eagles with one on each side of the shield. They bear the highest award given to a Ghanaian for their actions towards the good being of Ghana; Order of the Star of Ghana.
Holding the shield and the supporters in a grassy field is a scroll conveying the national motto; Freedom and Justice.
And that is the Ghana coat of arms meaning.
READ ALSO Political history of Ghana in brief
Source: YEN.com.gh
