Kufuor, others, honoured at National Awards

Some 244 personalities were on Thursday presented with national awards in various categories by the President John Agyekum Kufuor.

Mr Kufuor had the Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana conferred on him by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood to register himself the 245th award recipient.

Some personalities who had been billed for the national honour could not turn up, and to be represented by other persons.

The Ashantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who had been nominated for the Order of the Star-Companion Award could not show up.

Offficials at Manhyia said he had been attending to other issues. Some of the recipients included Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nayiri Naa-Bohugu Mahami Shirigu, Paramount Chief of Mamprugu, among others in the category of the Order of the Star-Companion Award.

Those who received awards in the Order of the Star-Member category were Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Kwadwo O. Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Government Minister, Mr. Odoi Sykes,a lawyer, Mr. Haruna Esseku, former Chairman of the NPP and Dr Charles Mensah, CEO, VALCO, Public Service.

Ms. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Managing Director of Barclays Bank, Mrs. Cecilia V.L. Bannerman, a member of the Council of State and Alhaji Malik Yakubu, Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament were among personalities who were honoured with the Order of the Volta- Companion Award.

Other notable personalities who were given the honour included Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, flag bearer of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and Mr. Alan Kyerematen.

Key members of the opposition NDC, including former President Jerry John Rawlings and former security advisor to the erstwhile PNDC/NDC, Capt. Kojo Tsikata (retd) have openly rejected the award arguing that the inclusion of certain personalities demeaned its essence.

Fiifi Coomson