2008 National Honours: Full list not ready

…Awards For Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Etc. Under Serious Consideration!

The full list of this year’s National Awards is still in preparation and a number of Ghanaian nationals who have contributed to the growth and development of Ghana including high personalities in previous governments and the current government are being considered for the various categories of the Awards.

This apparent clarification was contained in an official statement dated May 24, 2008 and issued by the Chief of Staff (CoS) and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani.

Mr. Mpiani’s statement which was released to the press last Saturday afternoon, followed an earlier one dated May 23, 2008 which was issued and signed by Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Andrew Awuni.

Mr. Awuni’s press release announced that President John Agyekum Kufuor had “nominated Professor John Evans Atta Mills, former Vice-President and Flagbeaer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the highest National Awards-Companion of the Star of Ghana for the year 2008”.

Mr. Awuni also disclosed that four other prominent Ghanaian personalities had been nominated for the same category of awards.

The four personalities named were; H.E. Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice-President; Nayiri Naa Bohugu Mahami Shirigu, Parmount Chief of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, The Yegun Wura Bawa Doshie, Paramount Chief of the Gonja Traditional Area and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Mr. Awuni’s May 23 2008 disclosure fell short of providing the full complement of the 2008 National Honours List and this apparent omission/defect fuelled some speculation as to the nature of this year’s National Awards as compared to previous year’s versions. The convention has been to officially release the full list of the National Honours at the same time rather than the piecemeal approach which Mr. Awwuni’s press release appeared to have adopted for this year’s version.

It was apparently to cure this defect that Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani issued a press statement to the effect that “the office of the President wishes to inform the general public that the full list of this year’s National Awards is still in preparation and a number of Ghanaian nationals who have contributed to the growth and development of this country, including high personalities in previous governments and the current government are being considered”.

Mr. Mpiani concluded that “when the list is finalized and it has received the assent of His Excellency the President, the public would be informed accordingly”.

The 2008 National Awards ceremony which is scheduled for July 3, 2008, as part of the activities to mark Ghana’s 48th anniversary as Republic is expected to witness the honouring of a ceiling of about 158 persons from various walks of life who have contributed their quota to the development of the nation, locally and externally.

The list of 158 persons, as we went to press last nite, was still being considered and credible though unconfirmed hints pointed to the possible inclusion of former President J.J. Rawlings (Ghana’s only living past President) and former President Hilla Limann, former Vice-President De-Graft Johnson, former Vice-President Kow Arkaah (all three posthumously). No formal initiative has yet been made to contact Ex-President Rawlings on the matter, our sources underscored.

The names of personalities like NPP Flagbearer, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo, Dr. K.K. Appraku, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and other high-profile personalities of previous governments as well as some leading past and present media practitioners, sports, cultural and musical figures (names withheld for now), according to our reliable sources, are all being considered for inclusion in the prestigious 2008 National Honours List.

The various national awards at stake at the July 3, 2008 Ceremony are as follows; ORDER OF STAR OF GHANA – COMPANION DIVISION, ORDER OF THE VOLTA-COMPANION DIVISON, ORDER OF THE VOLTA-OFFICER DIVISION, ORDER OF THE VOLTA-MEMBER and GRAND MEDAL.

“The NPP Government led by President J.A. Kufuor is seeking to use the institution of National Honours (Awards) and the symbolism and prestige that come with it, to provide the nation with a new dynamic in its forward march to collective prosperity and national cohesion; the motivation is to depart from the sub-culture of unbridled, blind partisanship, vindictiveness and discrimination and forge a new and fresh momentum for national progress and social harmony. That is the spirit for a new Ghana, after 51 years of Independence and nearly 16 years of on-going constitutional democracy”, reflected an elder Statesman who requested anonymity.