Amon Kotei, Ghanaian Artist

Nii Amon Kotei, Ghanaian Artist (1915 - 2011) 

 

Amon Kotei was one of Ghana's leading artists. This oil on canvas, is a fine, large example of his work painted in bold colours and brush strokes.

Signed and dated lower left : Kotei 96 (for 1996).

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Amon Kotei was born on 24 May 1915, at La, near Accra and belonged to the Ga tribe.  He trained as a surveyor and was a distinguished artist. 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 fought for the Royal West African Frontier Force during World War II and also worked in the Cartographic Division of the Army where he drew maps and plans for use by soldiers on the war front.

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In early March 1957 he was commissioned to design the national coat of arms by Ghana's first President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the British Colonial administration as independence drew near. 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 and rimmed with gold.

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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 Preszident Jerry John Rawlings.

Amon Kotei died on 17 October 2011.