The Chief Executive of Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC), Sam Jonah, is to be honoured with a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Head of the Commonwealth.

The insignia and warrant for the award will be presented to Mr Jonah at a special ceremony to be held soon, statement from the British High Commission in Accra said on Monday.

The statement said Jonah was chosen for the award for his exceptional achievements as an international public figure and outstanding African businessman. The award, Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, entitles Mr Jonah to attach the initials KBE after his name.

It said as a non-British national, however, the award is an honorary one. Other foreign nationals who have received honorary knighthoods in recent years include ex-Presidents George Bush (USA), Ronald Reagan (USA), Francois Mitterand (France), ex-Chancellor Helmut Kohl (Germany), Generals Norman Schwarzkopf (USA), and Colin Powell (currently US Secretary of State).

Others include Casper Weinberger (ex-US Secretary of State for Defence), Rudolf Giuliani (New York State Mayor), and Steven Spielberg (film director).