Audio Attachment:Listen to Prez. Mills on why he repealed the newest national award category of the Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana instituted by his predecessor, Mr. Kufuor. He describes the award as both inappropriate and discriminatory. |
In what can be described as a slap in the face of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, His Excellency President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, this morning described as both inappropriate and discriminatory, the newest national award category of the Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana, instituted in July of 2008 by his predecessor to honor Presidents of the Republic of Ghana after successfully completing their term of office.
He has therefore repealed and replaced it with what was instituted by Ghana�s First President, Osagyefuo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, on 1st July 1960.
Ex-President Kufuor, on July 3, 2008 designed the Order of the Star and Eagles award as the highest honour of the nation to be conferred on ex-presidents by the Chief Justice. Every new president was to be given the colour of the order as he or she is sworn into office, to be worn on all formal national occasions.
But Mr. Kufuor received a lot of flak from a section of the public, who deemed it as very unnecessary with some even tagging him as �Bokassa�.
Delivering his Second State of the Nation Address in Parliament today, President Mills however gave the assurance that �any person(s) who received those honours under the 2008 instrument acquired vested rights and therefore will not be required to return them.�
�It is a matter of fact that the exclusive national honours class of the Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana available only to presidents, is both inappropriate and discriminatory. I have therefore decided to repeal the instrument which introduced this class and replace it with the original national honours warrant executed on the first of July 1960 by the founder of our nation�I believe however that any persons who received those honours under the 2008 instrument acquired vested rights and therefore will not be required to return them,� President Mills told the House.
"Drug Trade"
President Mills also touched on the increasing rate of drug cases in the country and reiterated his administration�s pledge to combat the menace in the country.
ďż˝...Ghana will not allow herself to be made a subsidiary of the drug barons and their illegal activities. We do not also want to wake up every morning to screaming headlines in the newspapers and on the radio about the activities of the drug barons.ďż˝
President Mills who cautioned against complacency, was happy that there are strong indications Ghana is gradually becoming an unattractive destination for drug trade.
�I have directed that all those who use the VVIP, VIP lounge including the President should all undergo searches for drugs. I assure you that we will chase the drug barons out of town,� he stated.
Source: Alex Ofei/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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