President Kufuor has announced a final list of 241 distinguished Ghanaians to be given national honours for outstanding services to the nation.

Appearing on the list is Mr. Lamptey Mills, Proprietor of Great Lamptey Mills School. This school has recently been in the news and was cited for torturing some of its students. TV3 showed very disturbing pictures of a student, who according to the report was being beaten by land guards who have been invited by the school authorities to punish the said student for misconduct.

In a follow-up report another student was shown on TV with severe body injuries which he claimed was as a result of punishment he received from the school authorities. This school though, has achieved some gains in promoting basic education in the country.

In the past, some Ghanaians have been given national awards that didn’t go down well with the public. Some of these individuals were noted deviants whose achievements of any national nature were vague and doubtful.

It is common knowledge that national awards are given to people who have offered exemplary service and made extraordinary contributions to national development. Often, when it is done, no reference is made to their partisan affiliation, and there is usually national consensus on their suitability.

But the manner in which these national honours are being handled this time, it is likely to bring the entire exercise into disrepute.

But would any of the nominess politely reject the awards in protest?