Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is suggesting for a committee to be set up to determine beneficiaries of national honours.
He says the recent state awards given by President Akufo-Addo has denigrated the integrity of the honours considering some people that were decorated on the day.
General Mosquito, as he is known in the political circles, believes persons like outgoing MP for Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson and MP for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, do not deserve to be decorated with the honours given them by the President.
President Akufo-Addo on Monday, December 30, 2024, presented state honours to some distinguished Ghanaians who have helped served the nation in various categories.
Both Madam Hawa Koomson and Bryan Acheampong were ‘Member Awardees’ of the ‘Order of the Volta’, something Mr. Asiedu Nketia thinks has reduced the integrity of the awards.
Asiedu Nketia says the two are not deserving of the awards looking at what must be considered before one is given such an honour.
During his address at the 31st December Revolution commemoration of the NDC in Accra Tuesday, December 31, 2024, Asiedu Nketia said the inclusion of the two MPs in the awards has thwarted its significance.
“Have we forgotten about the significance of State awards? It’s been said that a nation that does not award its heroes is not worth dying for so state awards are serious business but they must be reserved for people of distinction, who have fought for a good cause,” he stated.
The NDC Chairman asserted that bestowing awards as precious as the National Honours to “vigilante boys and girls” does not set good example for the youth, suggesting the setting up of a committee to determine deserving recipients.
“…and if we award state honours to vigilante boys and girls, then that is what we are teaching the youth, that afterall, it is alright to pick weapons and shoot at people. It is alright to loot state coffers when you’re given the opportunity to serve as a minister.
“I want to suggest to the rest of Ghanaians that it is about time that we establish a proper committee backed by law that will help to determine who should earn a national award,” he suggested.
