Don’t politicise Prof Atta Mills nomination for national honours- Asamoah

Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng,

Minister of Information and National-Orientation on Friday urged

Ghanaians to refrain from “doing politics with Prof. Evans Atta-Mills'

nomination” for the nation's highest award, saying nominees are awarded

strictly on merit.
He said he was not in the position to tell whether or not Professor

Atta-Mills' nomination, which has generated so much controversy in the

political and the media circles, would finally be given the thumps up, until

President Kufuor returns from his trip outside the country.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng was addressing a meeting with Information

Officers and staff as well as Municipal and District Chief Executives in

Brong-Ahafo.
The purpose of the meeting was to familiarise himself with the

operations of the Information Service Department in the region and to

interact with its staff.
The Minister said it was not the intention of the NPP government to

score political points with the award “but was doing so. strictly as a matter

of principle”.
“He (Prof Mills) would be awarded if he deserves it. I cannot say

whether he would be neglected or would be included among the list of

those to be awarded until the President is back from his trips.
“As at now, no decision has been taken on the date for this national

award programme. It could be before Christmas or next year in January or

February”, he stated.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng appealed to the officers to be focused as they go

about disseminating information on government policies and asked them to

undertake this duty devoid of political “colourisation”.
The Information and National Orientation Minister also urged them to

build strong relationship with their subordinates, while seeking clarification

from their Municipal/District Chief Executives on any issue, which they

were not clear about so that they can give accurate information on current

issues.
He promised to restore other incentives in the service to the workers,

provided they work hard and support the government's development

agenda.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng urged MCEs and DCEs to collaborate with the

security agencies to arrest private Information Service Officers who

operate without licences in the region.