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 award conferred on him by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood to register himself as the 245th award recipient.

Some personalities, mostly members of the opposition National Democratic Congress who were nominated for the national honours did not show up for various reasons.

The Ashantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II who had been nominated for the Order of the Star-Companion Award could not show up due to the protracted chieftaincy dispute between the Abudus and Andanis he is mediating.

Their absence notwithstanding, the ceremony went ahead with colour and glamour.

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.

Order of the Star-Member

	Nana Akufo-Addo gets a presidential handshake after he was decorated by President Kufuor

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.

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.


Author: Fiifi Koomson