Some Ghanaians who have excelled in their various fields of national endeavour over the years are receiving national honours today.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is presenting the awards to them for their meritorious services, hard work, sacrifices and contribution to national development.
Among the award winners are Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is receiving the Order of the Star of Ghana – Officer Awardee.
The Vice President heads a list of government appointees and Members of Parliament who have been recognised at the 2024 National Honours and Awards and Presidential Honours for Distinguished Service in Accra.
The Vice President is the only recipient in the Order of the Star of Ghana – Officer Awardee while his running mate in the just-ended elections and Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh receives an award for public service in the Order of the Volta – Officer Awardee, a category dominated by MPs and appointees of the government.
The category also has winners including Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Kweku Ofori Asiamah, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Mavis Hawa Koomson, Ambrose Dery, Dominic Nitiwul and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
Kwaw Ansah, Daddy Lumba, Gyedu Blay Ambolley and Juliet Asante are also in there for Creative Arts.
Order of the Star of Ghana – Officer Awardee
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana – Public Service
Order of the Star of Ghana – Member Awardees
Prof Ato Essuman – Education / Public Service
Nana Susubiribi Krobea Asante – Traditional Leadership / Public Service
Marcus Garvey – (Posthumous) Pan Africanism
Justice Anin Yeboah – Judiciary/Public Service
Sam Okudzeto – Law/Public Service
Akosua Frema Osei-Opare – Public Service
Dr Ernest Addison – Financial /Public Service
Order of the Volta – Companion Awardees
Ambassador Mercy Yvonne Debrah-Karikari – Public Service / Cabinet
Ibrahim Magassa – Public Service / Finance
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu – Public Service
Order of the Volta – Member Awardees
Nana Kwasi Agyekum Dwamena – Public Service
Prof Paul Kwame Nyame – Health/Public Service
Dr James Orleans-Lindsay – Real Estate/Construction
Bright Appiah – Civil Society / Child Advocacy
Eric Ebo Acquah – Real Estate / Landscaping
Dr Richard Kwadwo Odor – Health / Public Service
Dr Kofi Nsiah Poku (Pharmacist) – Business/Health
Dr Stephen Saforo Yirenkyi – Spatial Planning/Public Service
Dr Patrick Bamph Owiredu – Health/Public Service
Kwaw Paintsil Ansah – Creative Arts
Erastus Asare Donkor – Media/Journalism
Margaret Anane-Agyei – Education/Counselor
Mercy Naa Aforwa Needjan – Market Development
Salma Salifu – Creative Arts / Fashion
Herbert A. Mensah – Sports Development
Yaw Debra Ofori – Education/ Advocacy
Kwesi A. Busia – Transport/Innovation
Dr Janet Ampadu Fofie – Public Service
Godfred Yeboah Dame – Public Service
Dr Mohammed Amin Adam – Public Service
Bryan Acheampong – Public Service
John Peter Amewu
Joe Osei Owusu – Public Service
Francis Asenso Boakye – Public Service
Samuel Abu Jinapor – Public Service
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum – Public Service
Brig Gen Emmanuel Okyere – Public Service
Edward Asomani – Public Service
DCOP (Rtd) David Senanu Eklu – Public Service
Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil – Health
Prof Henry Nii Adziri Wellington – Architecture / Education/ Public Service
Prof E.H.K. Akaho – Science/Technology
Rev Prof Gilbert Ansre – Religion /Publishing
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto – Public Service
Dominic Nitiwul – Public Service
Ambrose Dery – Public Service
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh – Public Service
Ignatius Baffour Awuah – Public Service
Kwaku Ofori Asiamah – Public Service
Ursula Owusu-Ekuful – Public Service
Kwasi Amoako-Atta – Public Service
Dr Kwaku Afriyie – Public Service
Mavis Hawa Koomson
Grand Medal Awardees
Mariama Mahama – Education
Hajia Katumi Natogmah Attah – Education
Philippa Larsen – Education
Albert K. Frimpong – Sports
Ayishetu Adam – Sports
Dr Paul Kofi Fynn – Media / Media Education
Dr Fareeda Adusei Wilson – Health / Public Service
Dr Nick Danso Abiam Adjei – Business /Entrepreneurship
Mrs Mawunyo Kuma Yakor-Dajbah – Advocacy
Dr Jemima Araba Dennis-Antwi – Health
Davies Narh Korboe – Public Service
Dr Evans Agbeme Dzikum – Public Service
DCFO (Rtd) Ahaji Richard Nuhu Gibril – Security Services
Gyedu Blay Ambolley – Creative Arts
Charles Kwadwo Fosu (Daddy Lumba) – Creative Arts
Alice Ofori-Atta – Public Service
Dr Edwin Alfred Nii Obodai Provencal – Public Service
Ekow Hackman – Public Service
Dr Richard Ampofo Boadu – Public Service
Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari – Financial/Public Service
Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi – Financial/ Public Service
Capt. Edmund Kojo Koda – Public Service
Dr Mustapha Hamid – Public Service
Mrs Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey – Local Government / Public Service
Emmanuel Adumua Bossman – Public Service
Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante – Creative Arts
About the National Honours and Awards 2024
The National Honours and Awards is a national awards ceremony that honours citizens who have rendered distinguished services to Ghana in various fields and careers.
The Award was instituted in 1960 to honour distinguished and deserving Ghanaians in various disciplines of national development and endeavour, celebrating creativity, innovation, excellence and hardwork.
The maiden ceremony of the National Honours and Awards was held when Ghana became a Republic under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Since then, the initiative to honour deserving Ghanaians and foreign nationals, has become part of the nation.
A new category, The Presidential Honours and Awards for Distinguished Service was instituted by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2023 to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary contribution of individuals and institutions for their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Akufo-Addo, noted with pride how citizens, institutions, and global development partners rallied together to protect human life and mobilised resources for the common good.
To be honoured this year are individuals, institutions and partners, who have distinguished themselves while serving mother Ghana with the following Award categories;
Presidential Honours for Distinguished Service Grand Medal Order of the Volta,
Member Order of the Volta,
Companion Order of the Star of Ghana,
Member Order of the Star of Ghana, Officer.
About THE ORDER OF THE VOLTA award
Description: The Insignia consists of a medal which is a seven pointed star 45 mm in diameter Suspended on a ring and worn with a libbon collar, together with a sash, a pendent, and a rosette. A miniature is also provided Ribbon 32 mm wide, blue background 45 mith black stripe in the center, and 4 mm red at ends Sash: As above but 102 mm wide with 15 mm black sumpe and 11 mm red ends. The Companion is worn over the right shoulder and the Officer and Member over the left
Classes: The Order comprises three classes
COMPANION: In 18-carat gold. Obverse: In yellow gold the center in white gold a symbolic allusion to the Volta Hydro Scheme damming and control of the river and the power issuant from it:
Reverse: A composite device showing the symbols of freedom and justice with the inscription ‘Companion of the Order of the Volta’ in relief.
OFFICER: in silver Obverse As above butin silver with gold center Reverse As above but with the inscription Officer of the Order of the Volta.
MEMBER: In silver. Obverse As above but in silver with the gill background to the center.
Reverse: As above but with the inscription Member of the Order of the Volta
Persons eligible: is awarded for distinguished server the field,
1. Civil Service, Military and Police Service Prisons Service, Judicial Service, and Local Government
2. Service with Statutory bodies
3. Service in Education and Public Health
4 Service in Education and Public Health
5 Service with Voluntary Organizations
6 Sports Music, Arts and crafts, and other Cultural pursuits
7. Scientific and other research
8. Commerce,agriculture, and industry
9 Any other public service not specified
Conditions for the award. This order is in two Divisions, Military, and Civil. The Military Division Can thus be conferred upon members of the fighting service for services that do not qualify them for some other decoration awarded for service in the field is before the enemy.
Posthumous award. No
Immediate award. No.
Post-nominal initials: CV, OV, MV. for each class respectively.
Source: Graphic Online