Asiedu Nketiah challenges integrity of National State Awards

The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has raised concerns about the selection process for the 2024 National State Awards. Speaking during the 43rd-anniversary celebration of the 31st December Revolution, he questioned the credibility and fairness of the awards, describing the current process as flawed and politically motivated.

Asiedu Nketiah criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration for conferring honors on individuals whose actions, he claimed, do not reflect the principles of merit and distinction. He argued that state awards should be reserved for citizens who have made significant contributions to national development and upheld integrity.

“State awards are meant for individuals of distinction, those who have fought for a good cause and positively impacted society,” he stated. The NDC Chairman also took issue with some honorees, suggesting that the inclusion of individuals allegedly linked to vigilante activities and questionable conduct undermines the essence of the awards.

He called for the establishment of a legally constituted committee to oversee the selection process for state honors. According to him, this would ensure transparency and remove the influence of personal or political biases in the decision-making process.

Asiedu Nketiah’s remarks have sparked a nationwide debate, with some Ghanaians echoing his sentiments and others defending the awards as a recognition of diverse contributions to the nation. The controversy adds another layer to the ongoing discourse on the integrity of Ghana’s national honors system.

By: Linda Akite