The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has honoured personalities and staff members for their outstanding contributions to the development of the nation.

The personalities who had distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour are Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Akilakpa Sawyerr, Director of Research for the Association of African Universities, Prof. Hector Addo, Prof. Atukwei Okai, President of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) and the former Justice of the Supreme Court, V.C.R.A.C. Crabbe.

In the area of religion the Anglican Archbishop Robert Garshong Okine, a retired Archbishop of West Africa and Koforidua, Mr Reynolds Amen of Amen Amen Church and the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu received awards.

Nii Kojo Ababio V and Naa Dedei Omadru III were honoured in the area of chieftaincy while Madam Margaret Sackey, Mrs Barbara Quaye, Mr Edward Lartey and Joseph Okine, staff of AMA, were also awarded.

Others were Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Nat Nunoo Amarteifio and Stanley Adjiri Blankson all former Metropolitan Chief Executives of the AMA as well as their Presiding Members; Mr Jacob Okine, former Accra Academy Headmaster and Mr Ben Annan, a lawyer.

Presenting the citations to them, Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, AMA Chief Executive, described the award winners as leaders who had brought development to the Accra Metropolis and beyond.

He called for more commitment from office holders adding; “the lesson that could be learned is hard work, which will be recognised at the right time.”

Dr Vanderpuije expressed gratitude to the awardees for the pivotal role they played adding that it would spur on the youth to contribute their quota towards the development of the nation, especially the Accra Metropolis.

Prof Atukwei Okai, spokesperson for the awardees, described the Accra Mayor as a man of vision and expressed gratitude to the AMA for bestowing such honours on them.

He said the occasion was symbolic and historical adding; “there is the right time for everything.”