Amon Kotei
Nii Amon Kotei (24 May 1915 – 17 October 2011) was a Ghanaian sculptor, painter, musician, surveyor, and graphic artist. He is mostly remembered and celebrated as the designer of the coat of arms of Ghana. He was one of Ghana's leading artists.
Also recorded as Nii Amon Kotei
Amon Kotei

Alniinod · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Amon Kotei
- Born
- 24 May 1915
- Birthplace
- Labadi, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
- Died
- 17 October 2011
- Education
- Achimota School
- Known for
- Designer of the coat of arms of Ghana
- Nationality
- Ghana
- Occupation
- painter · sculptor · musician
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Nii Amon Kotei (24 May 1915 – 17 October 2011) was a Ghanaian sculptor, painter, musician, surveyor, and graphic artist. He is mostly remembered and celebrated as the designer of the coat of arms of Ghana. He was one of Ghana's leading artists.
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wikidata · Q4747518 · wikipedia · Amon Kotei
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Amon Kotei • Born — 24 May 1915 • Birthplace — Labadi, Greater Accra Region, Ghana • Died — 17 October 2011 • Education — Achimota School • Alma Mater — London School of Printing and Graphic Art • Known for — Designer of the coat of arms of Ghana
Early life
Early life
Kotei was born on 24 May 1915, in a town called Labadi, located in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. He belonged to the Ga ethnic group.
Education and military service
Education and military service
Kotei was awarded 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. During World War II, he served in the Royal West African Frontier Force and worked in the Cartographic Division of the Army drawing maps and plans for soldiers on the front lines.
Notable contributions
Notable contributions
His most notable contribution was the creation of Ghana's national coat of arms on 4 March 1957. Kotei was commissioned by the British colonial government to replace the older badge which depicted an Elephant and a Palm tree; two symbols used throughout British West African colonies. After his initial design, under the government's instruction, the coat of arms was sent to the Queen's College of Heraldry for approval. The Ghanaian 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.
Death
Death
Kotei died on 17 October 2011. Following his passing, his contribution to Ghanaian art and heraldry were recognized by the Ghanaian parliament.
Identity
Identity
Amon Kotei is recorded with the occupation musician. Recorded as painter, sculptor and musician.

Amon Kotei designer of the Ghanaian Coat of Arms
Alniinod

Amon Kotei designer of the Ghanaian Coat of Arms
Alniinod
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1915
Amon Kotei was born on 24 May 1915.
2011
Amon Kotei died on 1 January 2011.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Amon Kotei”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4747518: Amon Kotei
General reference · Wikidata
Awards
He was awarded the State Honour of Grand Medal, Civil Division, for his coat of arms design presented to him on Friday, 7 March 1997, by then-president Jerry Rawlings. He received several other awards.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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