President to seek Council of State's advice on future honours

Bestowing national honours and awards on individuals and groups would no longer be at the will and pleasure of the President but on the advice of the Council of State, a bill to that effect went through the second reading in Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidoo, Chairman, Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Committee, said apart from the 1960 Constitution that conferred on the President of the day "the fount of Honour", all succeeding Presidents continued to confer honour and awards under the 1960 warrant.

He said the awarding of honours by the Presidents was in recognition of excellent service to the Republic was an act that motivated people to do their best in their areas of endeavour.

"Additionally, the bill seeks to establish and give legal backing to the National Honour Secretariat as part of the Public Service which has for many years been operating administratively."

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe South, said," at least the President would consult somebody before he honours people".

He called for clear-cut criteria to guide the activity adding: "The time has come for us to name streets and monument after the distinguished sons and daughters of the land."

Captain Nkrabea Effa Dartey, NPP-Berekum, said life went beyond the acquisition of wealth and having fun. "What makes a man is how he contributes to the development of his community, makes a name and leaves his footprints on the sands of time."

He said: "I'm looking forward to the day when anyone, no matter his or her stature, who has contributed to the upliftment of society in his own small way would be recognised and honoured."

Mr D. Y. Mensah, NDC-Atebubu North, who sounded religious, said," in the Old Testament, the Assyrians did not honour their old nor did they have pity on their young but we should honour our heroes".

He said: "Let's go back to the pre-independence era and put on roll all those who sacrificed life and property to pave way for our independence and honour them."

Mr Isaac Amoh, NPP-Ayawaso West-Wougon, said such national honours should go with privileges. "Come and see the kind of deprivation our war veterans are living in. They live in the midst of poverty and difficulties. I believe most of them have been honoured but their condition is worth nothing to write about."