The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo over the selection of recipients for the recent National State Awards.
Speaking at the 43rd-anniversary celebration of the 31st December Revolution, Asiedu Nketiah expressed concerns about the credibility of the awards, arguing that some honorees did not deserve the recognition they received.
He also questioned the lack of transparent criteria for selecting awardees, suggesting that the process undermines the prestige of the awards.
He called for the introduction of legislation to regulate the organization and conferral of National and State Awards, emphasizing the need for transparency, fairness, and a merit-based system.
“State awards are serious businesses. They must be reserved for people of distinction, people who have fought for a good course. If we award state honours to vigilante boys and girls, then that is what we are teaching the youth, that after all, it is alright to pick weapons and shoot at people. That after all, it is alright to loot state coffers when you are allowed to serve as a minister.
“I want to tell the rest of Ghanaians that it is about time we establish a proper committee backed by law that will help to determine who should earn a national award.”