By Adjei Dickens Ofori Asare
I now understand what they mean when they say, โ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฌ๐ณ๐ข๐ฉ, ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐ช๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ช๐ด ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ช๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ญ๐ช๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ธ๐ช๐ต๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ข๐ถ๐ต๐ช๐ง๐ถ๐ญ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด, ๐บ๐ฆ๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฌ.โ
Today, January 7, 2025, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama dressed in his story during his swearing-in as the next President of the Republic of Ghana. The presidentโs white โagbada,โ embroidered with Adinkrah symbols and incorporating a touch of the โฦmmerepa da wโanim Kenteโ pattern, believed to have been designed by his talented and creative designer, Bondaana, sends a message that is not lost in the fold of the cloth. The message speaks a thousand words to โactive thinking men and womenโ whose hearts are attuned. Those who are open-minded, good analysts, and receptive can bear witness that the presidentโs white โagbadaโ was silently-shouting the past, present, and the โfutureโ story of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and Ghana.
In our culture as Ghanaians, white is a symbol of victory, purity, and new beginnings. It represents the cleansing of past mistakes and a fresh start. President John Dramani Mahamaโs decision to wear a white โagbadaโ to his swearing-in ceremony conveyed a powerful message to the people of Ghana. Yes, you can wear the symbols of our ancestors, but if you donโt grasp their meaning, you are merely dressed in someone elseโs story. However, it was obvious that, in a subtle sense, the president was sharing his own story. If he were to say it himself, it would go something like, โ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ด๐ต ๐ฎ๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ๐ค๐ญ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ง๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ค๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ช๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ช๐ค ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฏ๐ต๐ถ๐ณ๐ฏ. ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ธ.โ
The โษ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐โ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐บโ Kente pattern is a beautiful and meaningful addition to the presidentโs โagbadaโ. This pattern, which translates to โBetter days awaits youโ in the Twi language, is a symbol of hope and optimism for the future. It tells us that no matter the challenges we face, there are brighter and more prosperous days ahead.
The incorporation of this pattern into the presidentโs attire suggests that he is committed to working towards a better tomorrow; one that is filled with promise and possibility. It is very crucial to note that the โษ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐โ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐บโ pattern is a traditional Kente design steeped in Ghanaian culture and heritage. The presidentโs use of this pattern in his attire shows respect for Ghanaโs rich cultural traditions.
The Adinkrah symbols on the presidentโs attire also tell a story.
The ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ป๐ธษ๐ณ๐ฎ symbol, depicting a bird looking backwards with its head turned towards its tail, is a representation of โgoing back to oneโs roots.โ In the context of President John Dramani Mahamaโs return to office, this symbol takes on a deeper meaning. As a former president who was voted out of office and has now been re-elected, the Sankษfa symbol embodies the Akan proverb โ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ษ๐๐ ๐ฌษ ๐ษ ๐ฎ๐, ๐ฎษ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐โ which translates to โreturning to take it back is not a tabooโ. This design is meant to convey the idea of looking back to oneโs past, acknowledging the wisdom and knowledge gained from previous experiences, and using that understanding to inform and guide oneโs present and future actions.
In essence, the presidentโs return to office is not seen as a taboo. The symbol suggests that the president is acknowledging his past experiences, both successes and challenges, and is committed to using that knowledge to inform and guide his decisions as he moves forward.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฟ๐ช๐ which translates to โTree of God,โ is a symbol that represents Godโs presence, protection, and guidance. Itโs often depicted as a cross-section of a palm tree or the top of a tree stump. In Ghanaian culture, Nyame Dua is considered a sacred spot where rituals are performed to purify and bless individuals.
In the context of President John Dramani Mahamaโs attire, theย Nyame Duaย symbol is a subtle yet powerful expression of his faith and reliance on the Almighty. As a staunch member of the Assemblies of God, the Presidentโs commitment to his faith is well-known. The inclusion of Nyame Dua symbol in his attire sends a strong message about the importance of Godโs guidance and protection in his life and leadership.
The ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ symbol, meaning โexcept for God,โ represents the supremacy of God over all beings. This symbol acknowledges Godโs omnipotence and reminds us that all things are subject to His will. In Akan culture, Gye Nyame is often used to express gratitude, humility, and remembrance of Godโs sovereignty. By incorporating this symbol into his attire, President Mahama is expressing his faith and reliance on Godโs guidance and protection.
Again, the president tells us that despite his accomplishments and achievements, he is not the ultimate authority. Rather, he is subject to Godโs will and would remain humble and grateful for His blessings.
Lastly, the ๐ฟ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ขษ๐ฃ symbol, depicted as ramโs horns, represents humility and strength. In Akan culture, the ram is revered for its strength and resilience, yet it remains humble and gentle. This symbol teaches us that a true strength lies not in aggression or boastfulness, but in humility and wisdom.
In the context of President Mahamaโs attire, the ๐ฟ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ขษ๐ฃ symbol signifies his commitment to humble leadership. The Presidentโs incorporation of this symbol into his design may be expressing his intention to lead with wisdom, compassion, and humility
I am not a clairvoyant, just a budding professional journalist, but I believe that if the subtle meanings of the symbolic design in the presidentโs attire are any indication of his vision for Ghana, then the country is indeed on the brink of greatness.
ย May Ama Ghana be great and strong
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