Contrary to reports in some section of the media that Prof Chukwuka Okonjo, father of former Nigerian Finance Minister, Prof Ngozi Okonjo Iweala got the highest national award of Ghana, he actually got the lowest.
Checks from government sources and Ghana government official records indicated that Professor Okonjo was decorated with the Member of the Order of the Volta award by President John Mahama and not the highest civil award of Companion of the Star of Ghana, which was awarded to only Dr. Mike Adenuga, the Globacom chairman.
The Member of the Order of the Volta belongs to the lowest cadre of national awards of Ghana.
Apart from the Companion of the Star of Ghana, the three other award categories are: Companion of the Order of the Volta, Officer of the Order of the Volta and Member of the Order of the Volta Professor Okonjo got the lowest award in the Order of the Volta category. The category is similar in class and status to the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award in Nigeria.
Pictures from the event indicated that the colours of the award ribbon for Professor Okonjo was navy blue, with red borders and a central black stripe. However, that awarded to Dr Adenuga for the Companion of the Star of Ghana was markedly different because of the status, bearing a tricolor of green – yellow – red, the official state colours.
The awardees, comprising twenty-six (26) Ghanaians and seven (7) non Ghanaians were honoured in three categories; the Companion of the Order of the Volta, Officer of the Order of the Volta and Member of the Order of the Volta. They all served in different areas of disciplines including Public service, Judiciary, Education, Voluntarism, Philanthropy, Sports, Medicine and Statesmanship.
The list of the award winners was led by the founder of Globacom, Michael Adenyi Ishola Adenuga Jnr., who received the highest honour of the “Companion of the Star of Ghana.”
Presidential Staffer in charge of state ceremonies, Commodore Stephen Obimpeh (Rtd.), Mr Kofi Totobi Kwakye, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya Iddrisu, Dr Kwabena Adjei and Vice Admiral Mathew Quarshie (Rtd.) all received the Companion of the Order of the Volta award. The others are Major General Richard Kwame Opoku-Adusei (Rtd.) and Rear Admiral Geoffrey Mawuli Biekro.
The Officer of the Order of the Volta award was received by Ing Michael Asafo Boakye, Prof (Mrs) Esi Awuah, Prof Fred Binka, Prof Joshua Angenu Alabi and Rev. Fr. Vincent Burke, SVD.
The eighteen (18) honorees who received the Member of the Order of the Volta award include Dr John Kwasi Bello, Prof Joseph Kpakpo Quaye, Prof Joseph Odai Oliver-Commey, Prof Samuel Kwadwo Owusu, Rev Dr Seth Mensah Ablorh, Dr James Edward Mensah, Justice Rose Constance Owusu, Margarate Alice Langdon, Ing Andrew Tonto Barfour, Prof Christopher Gordon, Prof Gordon Woodman, Prof Chukwuka Okonjo, Messrs Ebenezer Charles Oko Addy, B.K Mends, Stan Allotey and J.A Addy.
The others were Prince Emmanuel Asare and Revered Sister Magrit Ohmatch. Emma Helen Banga and Madam Anna Kate Codjoe each received a posthumous grand medal.
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Segun Abiodun
November 4, 2016 at 10:23 pm
The question is not what weather the professor got the highest honor or not. What most decent people are concerned about is what contributions he has made for the upliftment of society in General.
Congratulations to both Dr Mike Adenuga and Professor Okonjo. They both did Nigeria proud.