Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi and AC Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari are among 26 key people who have received awards for helping the development of northern Ghana.

The two key personalities who have got strong ties with the north were award along with the country’s President John Mahama and the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The Northern Youth for Peace and Development (NYUPED), awarded 26 people in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region, for their various contributions towards the promotion of peace and development in the three Northern Regions.

This is the latest recognition Nyantakyi, who was born and raised in Wa, has received over the past two weeks for his immense contribution to the development of the game in Ghana.

He was en-skinned a chief in Tamale two weeks ago for his role in the development of football in Ghana.

Nyantakyi was enskinned as ‘Boli Naa’ meaning ‘Chief of Football’ by Tamale overlord Naa Dakpema Alhassan Dawuni.

Muntari, even though controversial, has been recognised for the charities he supports and the charitable work he does in the north and among the poor.

The Northern Youth for Peace and Development (NYUPED), awarded 26 people in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region, for their various contributions towards the promotion of peace and development in the three Northern Regions.

The event, the third of its kind in four years, and the first in the Upper East Region, attracted various cultures with pomp and pageantry.

Four kings were awarded for their roles in peace, stability and development in the three northern Regions, and they included the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu the Second, Naa Bohugu Mahama Abdulai, Paramount Chief of Mamprugu, and Naa Tuntumbe Boresa Sulemana Jakpa, King of Gonja.

Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam, Mr. Mark Woyongo, Minister of the Interior, and former Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Joice Bawa Mogtari, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr. Alhassan Yakubu, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Mr. Sylvester Anemana, Chief Director of the Ministry of the Environment Science and Technology (MEST).

Mr. Prince Hardi, Chief Executive Officer of NYUPED, said the aim of the Awards was to appreciate the awardees’ special roles in development, and to identify themselves as brothers and sisters of the regions, with a common aim to help the poor and needy in society.

He thanked the awardees for their immense sacrifices for the nation.

Other awardees included Mr. Moses Asaga, Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, Mr. Sumaila Abdula Rahman, Director of Action Aid Ghana, Mr. Ibrahim Tanko, STAR-Ghana, Mr. Abuba Shaibu, Founder and Chairman of Nasona Oils, Mr. Moro Alhassan, of the National Service Scheme(NSS) and Mr. Alhassan Adamu, founder of Royal Bank.

The rest were Dr. David Abdulai Fuseini, Founder, Shekinah Hospitals Senatu Nangtoma and Mr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, CEO, Zoomlion, Dr. Hakeem Wemah, Board member of the Ghana Northern Development Fund and Major (retired) Albert Don Chebe, Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, who were awarded for their various roles in health and sanitation, education and development.

Reverend Eastwood Anaba Founder of the Fountain Gate Chapel, Mr. Daniel Syme, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Kwesi Nyantekyi, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association, Mr. Nasiru Issahaku, Governor, Bank of Ghana, and Mr. Sulley Muntari, footballer were also among the awardees.

Mr. Syme, on behalf of his colleague-awardees, thanked NYUPED for the recognition, and promised that they would strive for peace and development in all sectors of the economy.