Even though the Akan societies in Ghana had no standing army, the asafo - i.e., a people’s militia - was a well established social and political organization based on military principles. Every able-bodied person belonged to an asafo group; every child automatically belonged to his or her father’s company. Internal sub-divisions within an individual company included the main fighting body, the scouts, reserves, and the minstrel unit whose main job it was to sing patriotic and war songs to boost the morale of the military. There is even evidence that the Akan asafo scouting system is what Lord Baden Powell used as the model for his world scouting movement. Each asafo group is identified by a particular name and number and through a set of symbols displayed prominently on its flag. Commenting upon Asafo flags (frankaa) in the late 17th century, Europeans noted the distinct imagery and variety of the flags. These motifs served to identify the Asafo company by giving visual form to the creed by which it wished to be known. Verbal proverbs are represented by different colored cutout figures appliquéd upon the cotton ground. The presence of the British Union Jack is certainly a nod to the colonial era, as Ghana has been an independent nation since 1957. We cannot be sure of the exact meaning of the yellow fish and accompanying birds, but the bold colors and graphic images are fresh and appealing nonetheless.