The National Awards ceremony that generated heated political debates recently will now come off on July 3, with Prof Mills, Aliu Mahama, Nana Akufo-Addo, Harona Esseku, Kwadwo Mpiani, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Odoie Sykes, Paa Kwesi Nduom, Dan Botwe, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Prince Amoabeng, Peter Ala Adjetey and Agya Koo, (Comedian) all nominated for national honours. President John Agyekum Kufuor has nominated a total of 241 persons for this year’s National Awards Day, to be held on July 3, 2008 at the Accra International Conference Centre. The Awards are in the following categories: Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana (for Presidents of the Republic of Ghana), Order of the Star-Companion, Order of the Star-Member, and order of the Volta-Companion. The rest are Order of the Volta-Officer, Order of the Volta-Member and Grand Medal. A release signed by the Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesman, Mr Andrew Awuni, and issued on Friday June 20, stated that the following, have been nominated for the Order of the Star-Companion Award, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President, Republic of Ghana, Public Service/National Governance, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, Former Vice President, Republic of Ghana, Public Service/National and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, Chairman, Committee of Eminent Persons for Resolution of the Dagbon Chieftaincy issues, Traditional Authority/Public Service. The rest are, Nayiri NaaBohugu Mahami Shirigu, Paramount Chief of Mamprugu, Member, Committee of Eminent Persons for Resolution of the Dagbon Chieftaincy issues, Traditional Authority/Public Service, Yagbonwura Bawa Doshie, Paramount Chief member, Committee of Eminent Persons for Resolution of the Dagbon Chieftaincy issues, Traditional Authority/Public Service and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Former Minister, National Politics, Advocacy for Human rights and Rule of Law. Those nominated for the award of Order of the Star-Member are, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Lawyer/Politician/Former Speaker of Parliament, Public Service/Development of the Legislature, Mr Kwadwo O. Mpiani, Chief of Staff and Government Minister, Public Service, Mr. Odoi Sykes, Lawyer/Politician, Development of Multi Party Democracy, Mr. Haruna Esseku, Lawyer/Politician, Development of Multi Party Democracy and Dr Charles Mensah, CEO, VALCO, Public Service. Order of the Volta- Companion: Mr. Claire Short, former Secretary of State for Institutional Development – Development partnership, Baroness Valerie Ann Amos, former Secretary of State for International Development, former Leader of the House of Lords, U.K., Mr. Chris Kirubi, Ghana’s Consul-General to Kenya, Development Partnership, Ms. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Zambian National, M.D. Barclays Bank, Mrs. Cecilia V.L. Bannerman, Council of State, Public Service, Alhaji Malik Yakubu (MP) Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Public Service, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, MP, Government Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, MP, Government Minister, Maj. Courage Quashigah (rtd), Government Minister, Mr. Albert Kan-Dapaah (MP) Government Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko (MP), Government Minister, Mr. F.K. Owusu-Adjapong (MP) Government Minister, Mrs. Gladys Asmah (MP) Government Minister, Sheik I.C. Quaye, MP, Government Minister, Mr. S.,K. Boafo, MP, Government Minister, Dr. Richard W. Anane MP, Government Minister, Mr. Ernest A. Denbrah MP, Government Minister, Mr. E.A. Owusu Ansah MP, Government Minister, Mr. Yaw Barimah MP, Government Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Government Minister, Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Government Minister, Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Government Minister. Others are Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom MP, former Government Minister, Mr. Alan Kyerematen, former Minister, Mr. Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, former Government Minister, Mr. Yaw Osafo Maafo, MP, former Government Minister, Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, MP, former Government Minister, Mr. Dan K. Botwe, former Government Minister, Dr. K.K. Apraku, MP, former Government Minister, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, MP, former Government Minister, Mr. Alban Bagbin, MP, Minority Leader, House of Parliament, Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, MP, Deputy Minority Leader, House of Parliament, Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah, MP, Minority Chief Whip, House of Parliament, Ambassador D.K. Osei, Secretary to the President, Mr. Frank O. Mpare, Secretary to Cabinet, Mr. Patrick K. Acheampong, Inspector General of Police, Security Service, Mr. Stephen Sekyere-Abankwa, Board Chairman, GNPC, Public Service, Mr. Moses Oduro Boateng, Managing Director GNPC, Public Service, Mr. Thomas Manu, Operations Manager GNPC, Public Service, Ambassador Edusei Bawuah, Diplomat, Public/Private Partnership, Mr. George Y. Owusu, Country Manager, Cosmos Engineering, Public Service, Dr. Kwame Appiah Poku, Retired Medical Officer/Business Executive, Private Sector Development, Nana Gabby Nketiah, Office of the President, Public Service, Mr. Thomas Amematekpor, Office of the President, Mr. Nikai Amarterfio, Board Member, Bank of Ghana, Mr. Akenteng Appiah-Menka, Board Member VRA/Industrialist, Public/Private Partnership, Mr. Kojo Tsikata, former National Security Co-ordinator, Public/Security Services, Mr. Harry Sawyerr, former Government Minister, Mrs. Emma Mitchell, former Member, Council of State, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio, Omanhene of Sefwi Bekwai, President of the National House of Chiefs, Traditional Authority/Public Service, Mr. Roland Alhassan, Lawyer/Politician, Public Service, Dr. Dsane Selby, Medical Practitioner/Politician, Healthcare/Public Service, Col. George Minyila, Retired Military Officer, Security/Public Service. Honour – Order of the Volta –Officer They are Maj. Gen. Samuel Anum-Odotei, Chief of Army Staff, Security Service, Air Vice Mar. Julius Okyere Boateng, Chief of Air Staff, Security Services, Real Admiral Arthur Riby Sampa Nuno, Chief of Navy Staff, Security Services, Mrs. Mercy Bampo Addo, deputy Government Minister, Office of the President, Public Service, Mrs. Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Government Minister, Andrews Awinbono Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, Mr. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, former Press Secretary to the President, Mr. Joe Issachar, Head of the Civil Service, Prof Kwesi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor, KNUST, Higher Education, Prof Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, former Vice Chancellor, University of Ghana, High Education, Prof Eugene Hammond Amonoo-Neizer, former Vice Chancellor, KNUST, Public Service/High Education, Dr. Raphael Sylvannus Amegashie, Founding Dir., School of Administration, University of Ghana (Chartered Accountant), Higher Education and Accountancy profession, Dr. E. Gyimah Boadi, Executive Director, Centre for Democracy and Development, Civil Society, Dr. Grace Bediako, Chief Statistician, Public Service, Mr. Francis Ludovick Bartels, Former Headmaster, Mfantsipim School, Education, Dr. Bernard Ribeiro, Former President, Royal College of Surgeons, UK, Healthcare, Dr. Felix Konotey Ahulu, former Consultant, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Medicine/Research into Sickle Cells, Dr. Lawrence Siriboe, Cardio-Surgeon, Medicine, Dr. Blukoo Allotey, Retired Medical Officer, Healthcare, Mr. Seth Arnold Xaxabau Tsegah, Attorney at law, Nortary Public, Mr. Kwesi Zwennes, Lawyer, Contribution to Legal Practice, Mr. J.K. Agyeman, Lawyer, Mr. Kwame Tetteh, Lawyer, Mr. Eric Djamson, Lawyer/Diplomat, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Dan, Electoral Commissioner, Public Service, Justice Kingsley Nyina, Former Electoral Commission, Mr. Emile Short, Commission, CHRAJ, Human rights Administration, Mrs. Alberta Ollenu, Help Age Ghana, Contribution to Philanthropy, Dr. E. Oti-Boateng, (Omanhene, New Juaben Trad.Area|), Former government Statistician, Traditional Authority/Public Service, Nana Krobea Asante, Asokorehene, Lawyer/Ciontultant, Traditional Authority/public Service. The rest are Togbe Afede XIV (Traditional Ruler Asogli Trad. Area, Ho), Director, Sunon-Agogli Power (Gh) Ltd, Traditional Authority/Public Service/Energy, Ambassador Alex N. Abankwa, Retired Diplomat, Public Service, Mr. K.B. Asante, Retired Diplomat, Prof. S.K. B. Asante, Member, Ghana APRM, Most Rev Bishop P. Bemile, Member, Ghana APRM, Mr. Nutifafa Kuenyehia, Member, Ghana APRM, Ms. Gloria Ofori Boadu, Member, Ghana APRM, Dr. Francis Appiah, Executive Secretary, Ghana APRM, Nana Ntim Abankwa, Former Director, Research Department , Nana B,K, Yeboah, Former Director, Research Department, Mr. A.K. Afful, Former Director, Research Department, Mr. Ivor Agyeman Duah, Minister/Consul/Information, Ghana High Commission, Private Sector Development, Ms. Aurore Lokko, Chair Audit Service Board and Past President, Ghana Chattered Acc. Inst., Mr. Isaac Osei, CEO, COCOBOD, Mr. Kwame Sarpong, former CEO, COCOBOD, Mr. Edward Boateng, Chairman, Millennium Development Authority, Public/Private Partnership, Mr. Martin Eson-Benjamin, CEO, Millennium Development Authority, Mr. William Ampem Darko, Director-General GBC, Prof. James Basic Ato Ghartey, President, Inst. Of Chartered Acc., Prof. Yaw Sarpong Boafo, Cape Coast University, Higher Education, Prof Kofi Agyekum, Dept. of Linguistics, University of Ghana, Prof Takyiwa Manu, University of Ghana – Legon, Prof Irene Odoteye, University of Ghana – Legon, Prof. Victoria Appiah, former Deputy Director –General Atomic Energy Commission, Science, Prof John Humphrey Amuasi, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Atomic Energy – Science, Prof Rudolf Darko, Surgeon-Korle Bu, Medicine, Dr. Kwaku Ohene-Frimpong, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital – Kumasi, - Sickle Cell, Mr. Andy Asamoah, CEO, CAN Mall, Private Sector Development, Mr. Owusu-Achiaw, CEO, Accra, Mall, Mr. Acheampong Kyei, M.D., GLICO, Mr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi, President, AGI, Mr. Prince Kofi Amoabeng, CEO, Unique Trust Financial Service, Mr. Joseph Adom, Contractor, Acherensua-Brong Ahafo, Philanthropist, Nana Osei-Bonsu(Chief of Yefri), Traditional Ruler and Contrator, Philanthrophist, Dr. Golbin Nankani, Economist, Former World Bank consultant, Development Partnership, Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, Moderator, Presbyterian Church, Ghana, Religion, Most Rev Robert G. Allotey Okine, Retired Anglican Arch-Bishop and Primate of West Africa, Religion, Dr. Seth Abang Laryea, President , Valley View University, Private Higher Education, Joseph Siaw Agyapong, Founder, Zoomlion, Management of the environment, Mr. Kirk Koffi, Head of Engineering Department, VRA Head Office Public Service.