Sociological and religious interpretations of Adinkra symbols: Qualitative analysis of the 2025 inaugural outfit of Ghana’s President.

Introduction: Adinkra symbols, deeply embedded in Ghanaian culture, serve as
potent non-verbal communicative tools that convey philosophical, religious, and
sociopolitical meanings.
Methods: This study explores the sociological, religious, and fashion
interpretations of the Adinkra symbols incorporated into the 2025 inaugural
outfit of Ghana’s President. Anchored in a qualitative research design and aligned
with a constructivist research philosophical position, the study draws on insights
from 28 purposively selected participants, including traditional leaders, fashion
designers, museum curators, and cultural preservatists.
Results and discussion: The findings reveal that “Sankofa”, “Gye Nyame”, “Nyame
Dua”, and “Dwennimmen”, key symbols present in the attire, collectively signify
governance introspection, divine authority, ethical leadership, and humility
in power. Through the lens of Symbolic Interactionism and the Semiotic
Theory of Fashion, the study demonstrates how these symbols serve as
ideological markers, reinforcing national identity, political philosophy, and ethical
governance. The results highlight the critical role of indigenous symbolism
in shaping public perceptions of leadership, fostering national unity, and
maintaining cultural continuity in Ghana’s political landscape. The study calls for
the integration of traditional symbols into governance, education, and leadership
training to strengthen national identity and ethical governance.