Emblems

( The Korle Lagoon and the Sea | King of the Abëtëi Emblems )
The Korle Lagoon and the Sea are the main spiritual founts of the Ga people 

( A Great Nation Stands Before You, but You Cannot See Its Inner Paths ) 
Prejudice blinds you to the greatness of others | Mystique of the ostracised | Enigma

( Water Cuts Stone ) 
The efficacy of patience | Staying Power | Tenacity

( Iron Comes from Gravel, Not from Cotton Wool )
True greatness comes from suffering or empathy with sufferers

( Upwards Ever ) 
Aim always for the skies | Mark of Excellence

( Upright, Ever-fresh Mat of Peace ) 
Unconditional hospitality

( Divided We Fall )

( A Mysterious Star Shoots Down )
God rushes to the aid of the kind

( Oil Lamp with Three Fonts ) 
Contingency must outweigh immediate needs

( Hew Your Own Path )
Follow no path one but your own | Each destiny is unique

( All the Pathways of Spite Converge Eventually )
 Evil reaps evil | What goes around comes around

( Watch Askance )
Do not tinker with God’s handiwork

( The Poet’s Brain )
Poetic inspiration depends on three concentric factors: 
introspection, extrospection, and inspiration

( Keep to the Right Path )
Rectitude | Honesty | Godliness

( You Do Not Bask in the Sun Then Deny God ) 
The Deity is inherent to one’s being

( You Find a Nut, You Cannot Find a Stone to Crack It; 
You Find a Stone, You Cannot Find a Nut To Crack ) 
Vicious cycle | Life’s conundrum | It takes resolve to break life’s vicious cycles

( Tongue of the Wise )
The wise judge waits for divine inspiration before pronouncing on matters of the soul

( Bite the Iron )
Resolve your differences face-to-Face, however unpleasant | Stand up to adversity

( Snare of the Mind )
You may escape justice, but your conscience will always shackle you

( King with a Slender Belly )
Power comes from self-sacrifice, not greed

LËLË KË ESUSUMA
( Canoe and Its Shadow )
Progress depends on tangible and intangible factors

AYILÖ KPEE SHIA
( The Sacramental Clay Does Not Eat Dirt )
Nobles come from all backgrounds, rich or poor

( Mouth of the Coward ) 
Silence and cowardice encourage injustice

( Snail’s Teeth )
Shyness often disguises unparalleled ability and strength

( The Perfume Bottle Has Two Spouts ) 
Practise what you preach

SUSUMA DAMÖ FLËÑ
( The Soul Stands Aloof )
The transcendence of the soul

( Rattles Do Not Nurture a Child ) 
Children must be nurtured, not pampered

( Even the House of Twins Has One Meeting Place and Two Places of Rest ) 
Independence | Individuality | Autonomy | Freedom 

( The Sea’s Heart is Like a Snare ) 
Do not take liberties with Nature, or it will punish you

( A Ruler’s Throne or Palanquin is High, but Not Wide ) 
It’s lonely at the top

( The Vented Paddle Hacks Through the Sea Like a Whale ) 
Respect the dignity of your subordinates, and they will serve you well

( The Seabird Does Not Compete with the Fishes for Air ) 
Know the limits of your territory

( Fortified Rally of Kin ) 
Solidarity | Loyalty

( The Bee Will Sting and Be Disemboweled ) 
The ultimate sacrifice | Soldierly instinct

Dedicated to General Dallaire, Brigadier General Anyidoho, and the Ghana Army
for their valiant work during the Rwandan Genocide

( The Parrot’s Beak Is Near It’s Eye and Ear ) 
Truth | Veracity

KAA BI OLANMÖR SANE NI EYE BO SËKË
( Do Not Question Your Umbilical Cord or Be Maddened by It ) 
Denial of your roots leads to madness | Roots

( Heaven and Earth )
You lose your soul when you step outside the cosmic order

( The Housefly Is Toothless, But It Chews Bone ) 
Perseverance | Tenacity | Survival of the weakest | The power of the oppressed

( River and Storm Rage Inside The Coconut, Yet It Is Cool on the Outside ) 
The self-sacrifice, serenity, fortitude, and tolerance of mothers | Motherhood

( Male and Female Twins | Linguist to the Abëtëi King )
Dualism | Equality of the sexes

( The Head Sleeps, the Head Louse Eats )
Negligence benefits the opportunist | Exhortation to economic, cultural and moral vigilance

( Accra Proper )
The integrity of the Ga nation lies with its seven clans

( The Offering Receptacle Has Horns )
The altars and totems of the people are potent forces | Wilful desecration has dire consequences

( God’s Omnipresent Eye )
 God’s eye traverses all spheres and dimensions | Morality’s dredging eye