Staffs are typically works of carved wood and gold leaf which aid in the process of communication between the government and citizens. The structure of the staff consists of the stick and a carved ornament at the top that represents one or more Akan proverbs.
Because of the prominence of oral tradition in Akan culture, the okyeame is a highly respected role, serving as both a counselor to a chief and a messenger to the people. The creation and sharing of proverbs orally allows the Akan to access information about cultural customs, legal matters, and a variety of knowledge in specified fields; the linguist staff signifies a badge of authority for upholding these traditions.