Hot!
National Honours and Awards 2023: President Akufo-Addo praises personalities for ‘exploits in favour of Ghana’
• President Akufo-Addo decorating Mr Henry Quartey
Men and women who had distinguished themselves in various aspects of national endeavours were decorated by President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the National Honours and Awards event held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Tuesday.
The recipients, with smiles and excitement, took turns to exchange pleasantries with the President as he adorned them with stunning medals and sashes.
President Akufo-Addo said the national event was organised solely in recognition of the services offered by the recipients towards the development and prosperity of the country.
“As President of the Republic, I can happily say that I am not aware of the political sympathies or views of the overwhelming majority of today’s awardees. Their politics is of no moment to me, only their exploits in favour of Mother Ghana,” he noted.
The event was attended by hundreds of dignitaries, including the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Minister of Finance Mr. Ken Ofori Atta.
The list of awardees included international development partners, health workers and members of the COVID-19 Task Torce, and the team which won the maritime boundary dispute against Cote d’Ivoire in 2017.
Other individuals also honoured for their distinguished services inluded Ms. Margaret Sophia Darkwah, the first female Commissioner of Police; Prof. Akwasi Osei, former Chief Executive of the Mental Health Authority; and Dr. Veronica Agartha Martinson, former Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute, Ghana.
A picture is worth a thousand words and indeed, one of the striking images from the event was the interaction between President Akufo-Addo and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Henry Quartey.
Here are some extracts of the event.
By Spectator Reporter
Parliament has confirmed that the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, has been detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Parliament said the incident had been brought to the attention of the House leadership.
According to the statement, the Speaker of Parliament and the leadership of the House are currently in contact with Ghana’s Mission in The Hague to gather detailed information about the matter.
Parliament, however, did not disclose the reasons behind the MP’s detention.
“The public will be duly informed appropriately on this matter,” the statement added.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
