On Monday, December 30, 2024, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo presented awards to several Ghanaians in recognition of 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 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
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)