John Dramani Mahama was inaugurated as Ghana’s president for the third time, with Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang becoming the nation’s first female vice president.
In his analysis of President Mahama’s costume at his swearing in on Tuesday, a Ghanaian X user, Owura, with a verified X handle @Owulibaba notes that the President’s costume hosts four embroidery Adinkra symbols that encapsulate evocative messages to the world.
He wrote, On the top is:
NYAME DUA – ‘Tree of God’ which symbolizes God’s protection and presence. On the left is,
SANKOFA – Return and take it, which symbolizes learning from the past. The egg in its mouth represents the “gems” or knowledge of the past upon which wisdom is based.
On the right is:
GYE NYAME – Except for God or Only God, which also symbolizes the Supremacy of God. And on the bottom is;
DWENNIMMEN – Ram’s Horn, which symbolizes Humility and Strength.
He ended his analysis with, “Congratulations to the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama.”
Iya Magazine reports that Adinkra are symbols from Ghana that represent concepts, aphorisms, and the way of life of the people who designed them. They are used in many ways, including:
Fabrics: Adinkra symbols are often printed on cotton fabric to make “Adinkra cloths”. These cloths are worn at celebrations like child naming, funerary rituals, and community durbars.
Pottery: Adinkra symbols are often used on pottery.
Walls: Adinkra symbols are incorporated into walls and other architectural features.
Gold weights: Adinkra symbols appear on some traditional Akan gold weights.
Logos: Adinkra symbols are often used in logos.
