Coat of arms of Ghana

Coat of arms of Ghana
Armiger	Republic of Ghana
Adopted	4 March 1957
Crest	A black star bordered in gold
Torse	Gold, green and red
Shield	Azure on a cross vert fimbriated Or a lion passant guardant Or, in the first quarter a linguist's staff and ceremonial sword crossed in saltire Or, in the second quarter issuant from five bars wavy Argent and Azure a castle Argent upon a mount Or, in the third quarter affixed in a grassy plain a cocoa tree proper and in the fourth quarter upon a grassy plain a mine proper.
Supporters	Two eagles displayed Or around each of whose neck hangs a black star fimbriated Or suspended from a ribbon tierced gules, Or and vert upon a grassy compartment proper
Motto	Freedom and Justice
Earlier version(s)	Gold Coast
Use	1877-1957

The coat of arms of Ghana was designed by Ghanaian artist Nii Amon Kotei and was introduced on 4 March 1957.

Description

• The first quarter, on the upper left shows a sword used by chiefs, and a staff, used by the linguist (known as an okyeame in Akan), at ceremonies. It is a symbol for the traditional authority of Ghana.
• The second quarter shows a representation of Osu Castle on the sea, the presidential palace on the Gulf of Guinea, symbolizes the national government.
• The third quarter of the shield shows a cocoa tree, which embodies the agricultural wealth of Ghana.
• The fourth quarter shows a gold mine, which stands for the richness of industrial minerals and natural resources in Ghana.
• A gold lion centred on a green St George's Cross with gold fimbriation on the field of blue, represents the continuing link between Ghana and the Commonwealth of Nations.
• The crest is a Black star of Africa with gold outline, upon a torse in the national colours.
• Supporting the shield are two golden Tawny eagles, with the Order of the Star of Ghana suspended from their necks.
• The compartment upon which the supporters stand is composed of a grassy field, under which a scroll bears the national motto of Ghana: Freedom and Justice. The shield stands for a weapon which helps to fight poverty, ignorance and hunger

History

British Gold Coast

• 
  1821-1837
• 
  1837-1877

Danish Gold Coast

• 
  1658-1699.
• 
  1699-1819.
• 
  1819-1855.

Dutch Gold Coast

• 
  1612-1665.
• 
  1665-1795.
• 
  1795-1802.
• 
  1802-1806.
• 
  1808-1810.
• 
  1810-1814.
• 
  1814-1815.
• 
  1815-1872.

English Gold Coast

• 
  1631-1637.
• 
  1663-1688.
• 
  1694-1700.

Brandenburger/Prussian Gold Coast

• 
  1682-1688
• 
  1688-1721

Portuguese Gold Coast

• 
  1482-1557.
• 
  1557-1578.
• 
  1578-1580.
• 
  1580-1640.
• 
  1640-1642.

Swedish Gold Coast

• 
  1650-1654.
• 
  1654-1663.

External links

• Media related to Coats of arms of Ghana at Wikimedia Commons