President Kufuor explains significance of awards

Accra, July 3, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday, defended the creation of the "Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana" to honour Ghanaian Heads of State, as a legitimate necessity.

"I wish to observe that the law establishing the Award of national honours did not provide specifically for an Order for the Head of State, which is the highest office of the land."

President Kufuor was speaking at this year's National Honours Awards in Accra on the theme: "Branding Ghana for a Prosperous Future." "Today, I wish to announce that by the powers vested in me by the Constitution as President and Head of State of the Republic, and after wide consultation, I have instituted a new Order solely for Presidents of the Republic.

President Kufuor who was the maiden recipient of the award said henceforth: "Every new President will be given the collar of the Order as he or she is sworn into office, to be worn on all formal national occasions."

He said on successful completion of a term of office, a President would be presented with a replica of the collar, if he or she so desires.

"This is the rationale governing my decision to institute the Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana as the top of all the State awards created since 1960. The Order will be conferred on the President by the Chief Justice."

President Kufuor said failure of past Heads of State to honour some deserving Ghanaians had created a huge backlog of people whose distinguished services should have been recognised.

"Over the past three years, I have deemed it imperative to try to correct this anomaly around the annual celebration of the Republic Day.

The 244 award winners comprising Vice President Alhaji Aliu Member received various honours including: "Order of the Star of Ghana," "Order of the Volta- Companion," "Order of the Volta-Officer," and the Order of the Volta-Member."

President Kufuor said the honours were instituted by the first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, when Ghana attained Republican status on July 1, 1960.

President Kufuor stressed: "Over the years, subsequent leaders have implemented the honours very sparingly."

Turning his attention to the award winners, he asked them to be champions of peace and reconciliation in order to sustain the steady momentum of national development towards the prosperous future that beckons all Ghanaians. 03 July 08