President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo gave national honors to many Ghanaians on Monday, December 30 for their important contributions to the country's growth. These individuals were honored for their outstanding service, devotion, and contributions to the nation's growth over time. Among the beneficiaries were high-ranking Akufo-Addo administration officials, who were recognized for their contributions to government.

However, the announcement has prompted outrage, with Franklin Cudjoe, the Founding President and CEO of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, publicly criticising the move. Cudjoe expressed significant opposition to President Akufo-Addo's decision to reward specific appointees, notably those who were not re-elected in the December 7 elections.

Mavis Hawa Koomson, Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East and Minister for Special Development Initiatives, has become a target of the criticism. Koomson received the medal despite her involvement in a highly documented incident during the 2020 elections, in which she fired warning bullets at a voter registration office in her area. She later stated that she took the move to protect herself, citing the lack of police presence at the time.

Cudjoe turned to social media to denounce the judgment, labeling it "the ultimate skullduggery." He expressed anger that people who had been rejected by voters were still being rewarded, describing the awards as a "middle finger" to the electorate. He notably chastised Koomson, claiming that her role in the gun-wielding episode made her unworthy of such recognition.

The controversy shows the country's deepening divisions, with many questioning government leaders' behavior and accountability.