Vice President mahama signing the book of condolence
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16th December, 2011
Veep, Parliament Eulogise Amon Kotey
The Vice-President John Mahama yesterday signed a book of condolence for the late Amon Kotei, the man who designed the Coat of Arms.
He expressed the government’s condolence at Mr. Kotei demise and promised to lead the government delegation to the funeral today, at the Forecourt of the State House.
Mr. Kotei passed away on October 17, at the age of 96.
Earlier on Wednesday, Parliament expressed condolences and paid glowing tributes in memory of Mr. Kotei.
The Members described the renowned graphic designer, printer and illustrator as an “inspirational hero with proven values who had contributed to the country’s cultural heritage.”
It followed a statement by Nii Amasah Namoale (NDC-Dade Kotopon) who described “Mr Kotei as someone who everyone in Ghana and the world at large will always know for his great deeds and wonderful attitude towards everything.”
He said Mr Kotei has laid a foundation and left an important and unique heritage behind and a legacy for the society to follow.
The Majority Leader, in Cletus Avoka said Mr. Kotei’s heroic achievement was a clarion call to all Ghanaians that “if one made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of the country, one would be remembered.’’
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu the Minority Leader, said Mr Kotei’s craftsmanship in the design of the national emblem would continue to be cherished by the country.
The late Kotei, a veteran of the Second World War, was born on May 24, 1915 at La, in Accra
He was enlisted into the Royal West African Frontier Force and later worked at the Cartographic Division of the Ghana Armed Forces.
In 1949, he travelled to London to study art at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art from 1949-1952 and returned home to the Gold Coast in 1952 to work in the Government Printing Press.
Amon Kotei introduced Silkscreen Printing in and worked as a graphic artist, printer and illustrator.
He designed and made blocks for books, posters, illustrations and many government publications. He also had to his credit many book cover designs and illustrations.
As Independence Day drew near, the need for a Coat of Arms distinct from that of the imperial power, Great Britain became acutely felt. To give a distinctive local flavour to the work, a high recommendation came from the colonial government to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, to appoint a Ghanaian artist, Amon Kotei, to design the Coat of Arms.
Amon Kotei’s talent and the outstanding quality of his work was known to the colonial government from his previous works in the book – State Emblems of the Gold Coast, written by D. A. Sutherland first (1st) edition 1954, Second (2nd) edition 1956, both editions illustrated by Amon Kotei.
Amon Kotei’s suggestion to use eagles was accepted, so he used the eagles to support the shield, instead of the elephants which the Cabinet had approved.
After months of hard work, Amon Kotei finally completed the drawing. When he compared it to other Coat of Arms, he was convinced that it was one of the best, a view shared by Captain Hamilton, the British officer at the Castle who liaised with Mr. Amon Kotei.
The initial review at the Osu Castle, the seat of government, was approved without any hesitation and the design was sent to Great Britain for final review and approval by the Her Majesty the Queen and cabinet.
The design was approved by the Cabinet and returned to the Gold Coast Osu Castle, with minor modifications by master designers in.
Mr. Amon Kotei received the State Honour of Grand Medal, Civil Division, Coat of Arms Design presented to him on Friday, March 7, 1997 by then president Jerry John Rawlings.
He was survived by his wife, Madam Sarah Adoley Addo, and children.
He expressed the government’s condolence at Mr. Kotei demise and promised to lead the government delegation to the funeral today, at the Forecourt of the State House.
Mr. Kotei passed away on October 17, at the age of 96.
Earlier on Wednesday, Parliament expressed condolences and paid glowing tributes in memory of Mr. Kotei.
The Members described the renowned graphic designer, printer and illustrator as an “inspirational hero with proven values who had contributed to the country’s cultural heritage.”
It followed a statement by Nii Amasah Namoale (NDC-Dade Kotopon) who described “Mr Kotei as someone who everyone in Ghana and the world at large will always know for his great deeds and wonderful attitude towards everything.”
He said Mr Kotei has laid a foundation and left an important and unique heritage behind and a legacy for the society to follow.
The Majority Leader, in Cletus Avoka said Mr. Kotei’s heroic achievement was a clarion call to all Ghanaians that “if one made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of the country, one would be remembered.’’
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu the Minority Leader, said Mr Kotei’s craftsmanship in the design of the national emblem would continue to be cherished by the country.
The late Kotei, a veteran of the Second World War, was born on May 24, 1915 at La, in Accra
He was enlisted into the Royal West African Frontier Force and later worked at the Cartographic Division of the Ghana Armed Forces.
In 1949, he travelled to London to study art at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art from 1949-1952 and returned home to the Gold Coast in 1952 to work in the Government Printing Press.
Amon Kotei introduced Silkscreen Printing in and worked as a graphic artist, printer and illustrator.
He designed and made blocks for books, posters, illustrations and many government publications. He also had to his credit many book cover designs and illustrations.
As Independence Day drew near, the need for a Coat of Arms distinct from that of the imperial power, Great Britain became acutely felt. To give a distinctive local flavour to the work, a high recommendation came from the colonial government to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, to appoint a Ghanaian artist, Amon Kotei, to design the Coat of Arms.
Amon Kotei’s talent and the outstanding quality of his work was known to the colonial government from his previous works in the book – State Emblems of the Gold Coast, written by D. A. Sutherland first (1st) edition 1954, Second (2nd) edition 1956, both editions illustrated by Amon Kotei.
Amon Kotei’s suggestion to use eagles was accepted, so he used the eagles to support the shield, instead of the elephants which the Cabinet had approved.
After months of hard work, Amon Kotei finally completed the drawing. When he compared it to other Coat of Arms, he was convinced that it was one of the best, a view shared by Captain Hamilton, the British officer at the Castle who liaised with Mr. Amon Kotei.
The initial review at the Osu Castle, the seat of government, was approved without any hesitation and the design was sent to Great Britain for final review and approval by the Her Majesty the Queen and cabinet.
The design was approved by the Cabinet and returned to the Gold Coast Osu Castle, with minor modifications by master designers in.
Mr. Amon Kotei received the State Honour of Grand Medal, Civil Division, Coat of Arms Design presented to him on Friday, March 7, 1997 by then president Jerry John Rawlings.
He was survived by his wife, Madam Sarah Adoley Addo, and children.
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