Be inspired by the example of national honourees – Akufo-Addo tells youth

President Akufo-Addo has called on the country’s youthful population to be inspired by the lives, works, and sacrifices of all those who have received national honours from the state for their various contributions to the nation’s development.

President Akufo-Addo made the call in his keynote address at the 2024 Presidential Honours for Distinguished Service, held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Monday, 30 December 2024, to honor and recognize the contributions of persons who have served in various public offices.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the award ceremony is a tradition that “dates back to 1960, when [Ghana’s] first President, Kwame Nkrumah, inaugurated the National Honours and Awards scheme.”

From then [Kwame Nkrumah’s time] until now, President Akufo-Addo said the awards ceremony “has been a cornerstone of our national journey—a way of saying thank you to those whose selflessness and brilliance light the way for the rest of us.”

He added that the honours “reminds us that excellence deserves acknowledgment and that our collective progress depends on the hard work of individuals willing to go the extra mile.”

“To our honourees, this is your day. Let this moment inspire you to continue to make a difference. To the young people watching, let these stories ignite in you a desire to contribute to Ghana in your own unique way. To every Ghanaian, let this occasion remind us that our collective strength lies in celebrating the very best among us,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.

“The future of Ghana is bright because of individuals like you. Together, we can build a nation that stands as a beacon of hope for Africa and, indeed, the world. Let us celebrate excellence, inspire service, and strengthen our resolve to leave a legacy worthy of the generations to come,” President Akufo-Addo further remarked.

Distinguished Service

Overall, the honours for distinguished service were in six 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 and Order of the Star of Ghana, and Officer.

“The Grand Medal, the Medal for Gallantry, and the Presidential Certificates of Distinguished Service remind us of individuals and institutions, such as Nick Danso Abiam, Juliet Asante, Davis Narh Korboe, the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Prisons Service, whose impact is profound.

“Whether it is through saving lives, protecting property, creative expression, entrepreneurial ability, working hard, or simply showing unshakable loyalty to Ghana, they have set a standard that inspires us all to do better and be better,” President Akufo-Addo said concerning the recipients of the first three categories.

Excellence in National Life

According to Akufo-Addo, the Order of the Volta celebrates excellence in many spheres of national life. “We honor individuals like Ambassador Mercy Yvonne Debrah-Karikari, the first female Cabinet Secretary, and Hon Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Minister and long-serving Member of Parliament, whose strong dedication to public service has left a mark on Ghana.

“Among the officers and members receiving this award are health professionals, creatives, political leaders, lawmakers, and public servants—each one a shining example of how diverse talents and disciplines contribute to our nation’s greatness,” Akufo-Addo stated about the Order of the Volta recipients.

Order of the Star of Ghana

To the recipients of the Order of the Star of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo said, “You have achieved the extraordinary. Your contributions have touched lives and transformed our society. Let me single out our excellent Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, whose leadership and tireless work in transforming our digital landscape have helped modernize our economy and deepened our resilience.

“To all other recipients in this prestigious category, you embody the very best of Ghana—leaders in education, financial supervision, public service, traditional leadership, and even posthumous honourees like the legendary Marcus Garvey, whose legacy of global Pan-Africanism continues to inspire us,” President Akufo-Addo remarked about the Vice President and other honorees in the Order of the Star of Ghana category.

Institutions

To the institutions receiving the Presidential Plaque for Distinguished Service, including the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Prisons Service, and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Akufo-Addo noted, “Your work reflects the very best of our collective spirit. You remind us that greatness is achieved through teamwork and dedication.

“I would also like to take a moment to honour our posthumous awardee. Marcus Garvey’s Pan-African ideals continue to resonate deeply, urging us to unite as global Africans and take charge of our destiny. His legacy, along with those of others who are no longer with us, is a clarion call for us to carry forward their unfinished work,” President Akufo-Addo further remarked.

Below is a full list of all the honourees 

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

Order of the Volta – Officer Awardees

• DCOP (RTD.) David Senanu Eklu – Public Service
• Prof Dr Ing Henry Nii Adziri Wellington – Architecture/ Education/ Public Service
• Rev Prof Gilbert Ansre – Religion/ Publishing
• Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul – Public Service
• Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil – Health
• Prof E.H.K. Akaho – Science/ Technology
• Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto – Public Service
• Ambrose Dery – Public Service

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

Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Accra

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