The night of Independence Day in Cape Coast was one of peace, glitz, entertainment and tradition soothingly complemented by the calm waves of the Gulf of Guinea and a cool breeze, ushered in the second edition of the Ahyɛse Central Excellence Awards.
Some industrious sons and daughters of the Central Region received recognition with the most outstanding person awarded on the night, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the Vice President of Ghana, for her outstanding leadership in politics and academia.
In all, 20 distinguished individuals from various sectors including politics, music, tradition, chieftaincy, entrepreneurship, media, entertainment, academia, religion, health, and fashion, were awarded at the event organises by Bash Afrique Entertainment.
For outstanding leadership and achievements in politics, Mr Kennedy Agyapong, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, MP for Cape Coast South, and Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effufu, were honoured.
Dr Kwamena Mintah Nyarku, MP for Cape North, and Mr Kwamena Duncan, a former Central Regional Minister, were also given the same honour for their exceptional political leadership in the region.
Other awardees included Dr J.K. Dodoo, outstanding medical doctor, Prof Uriah S Tetteh, outstanding educationist; Nana Kwesi Mensah III, Chief of Kwaprow, outstanding Traditional Ruler, Nana Araba Kwosima, outstanding market woman, and Mr Johnson Quayson.
The event was spiced up with music and cultural performances which kept elated patrons on their feet clapping and laughing for the better part of the night.
Mrs Barbara Asher Ayisi, a former MP for Cape Coast North and Secretary to the Awards, observed that many prominent personalities of the region deserving recognition had not been celebrated enough, hence, the awards.
She explained that the initiative was introduced to celebrate persons who had made exceptional achievements and contributed to the development of the region and served as a motivation for the youth.
She noted that the next edition of the awards will also celebrate people from the region in the diaspora contributing to the region’s development.
Mrs Ayisi called on citizens to use Independence Day as an occasion to reset their mindset towards the development of the country with a non-partisan approach as the new government sought to reset the country.
“Talking about resetting Ghana, we have to also think of our mentality, how we can call for development, how we can work hard as a country, how we can stick to our culture and how we can fight corruption,” she said.
She entreated the NDC government to build on the achievements of the outgone NPP administration instead of reinventing the wheel, urging also to correct the mistakes they committed.
“We should be able comprehensively assess our current state so that the government can set goals that will move this country forward,” she said.
Mr Mintah Nyarku, the Cape Coast North MP, commended the organisers of the awards, describing Mrs Ayisi as a phenomenal politician who had contributed massively to the development of the constituency. He applauded her non-partisan approach in dealing with issues.
“I think that if she continues on that tangent, a lot more people will emulate that ability to recognise and appreciate people devoid of their political affiliation,” he said, adding “The award is an indication that people are watching what you do and it is a motivation to work even harder.”
Dr Mintah Nyarku was convinced that if all Ghanaians worked together towards the development of Ghana devoid of partisan politics, Ghana would be a better place to live.
“Political affiliations do not matter when it comes to the development of Cape Coast and Ghana and this award is a demonstration that inclusiveness is vital in the development of Ghana,” he stressed.
Prof Tetteh, a lecturer at the Cape Coast Technical University who took home the outstanding educationist award, urged all citizens to give off their best in everything they did because they were being watched closely.
“All of us as Ghanaians have to put our political affiliations aside and work together for the development of the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ayisi was honoured by the Cape Coast Youth Development Association and officially certified as a patron.
Source: myghanadaily
