Several Ghanaians who have excelled in their respective fields over the years were on Monday, December 30, 2024, celebrated with national honours.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presented the awards to recognise their outstanding service, hard work, sacrifices, and contributions to national development.
Among the recipients was Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who was honoured with the prestigious Order of the Star of Ghana – Officer Award, the highest distinction of the year.
Dr. Bawumia led a list of government officials and Members of Parliament recognized at the 2024 National Honours and Awards and the Presidential Honours for Distinguished Service, held in Accra.
The Vice President is the sole recipient of the Order of the Star of Ghana – Officer Award this year. His running mate in the just-ended elections and Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, received the Order of the Volta – Officer Award for his contributions to public service. This category also includes several Members of Parliament and government appointees, 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.
The creative arts sector was also well-represented, with Daddy Lumba, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, and Juliet Asante receiving awards for their significant contributions to music and the arts.
Order of the Volta – Member Awardees include:
- 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
About the National Honours and Awards 2024
The National Honours and Awards is a prestigious national ceremony that honours citizens who have rendered distinguished services to Ghana in various fields. The award was instituted in 1960 to recognize Ghanaians who have made significant contributions to national development in diverse disciplines, celebrating creativity, innovation, excellence, and hard work.
The first ceremony took place in 1960 when Ghana became a Republic under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Since then, the initiative has become a key tradition in recognizing deserving individuals and foreign nationals.
A new category, the Presidential Honours for Distinguished Service, was established by President Akufo-Addo in 2023 to celebrate individuals and institutions that showed extraordinary resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Akufo-Addo praised citizens, institutions, and global development partners for their collective efforts to protect lives and mobilize resources for the greater good.
Award Categories for 2024:
- 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
The Order of the Volta consists of a seven-pointed star medal worn with a ribbon collar, sash, pendant, and rosette. The medal’s design symbolizes the Volta Hydro Scheme and the power it generates. There are three classes within the Order:
- Companion: In 18-carat gold, awarded for distinguished service in various fields.
- Officer: In silver, awarded for exceptional contributions to public service.
- Member: In silver, for notable service in public and voluntary sectors.
Eligible recipients come from sectors such as civil service, military, police, judiciary, education, public health, sports, culture, commerce, and agriculture.
The award is not conferred posthumously or immediately after the service. Recipients may use post-nominal initials for each class: CV (Companion), OV (Officer), and MV (Member).
