Afari-Djan wins Gold Coast Award

GHANA's democratic dispensation received significant recognition last Saturday when the coveted Gold Coast Award was conferred on the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Djan, at the Millennium Excellence Awards.
He was rewarded for having presided over three successful elections in Ghana.
The ceremony, which was the first of its kind to be held, came in two forms — the Millennium Excellence Awards, meant to reward Ghanaian individuals and institutions, and the Lifetime Africa Achievement Award (LAAP), intended to recognise Africans/non-Africans for their contribution to and outstanding roles in Africa's development.
In the LAAP category, a Nigerian businessman, Mr Amaechi Ndili, was awarded the Black Star of Africa prize, the highest in that category, for his entrepreneurial excellence.
In the Millennium Excellence category held at the Accra International Conference Centre, 30 Ghanaian institutions and individuals, apart from Dr Afari-Djan, were recognised, including the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), each winning the Democratic Development award.
Other notable winners were Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, (Medical Leadership); Mr Albert Ocran, (Inspirational Motivation); Major General Henry Anyidoho (retd), (Peace Promotion); Zoomlion Ghana Limited, (Industrial Leadership); Togbe Afede XIV, (Chieftaincy Leadership); Prof Kofi Awoonor, (Literature Development), Mrs Doreen Owusu Fianko, the former Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board; Mr Patrick Saab Saref, the Chief Executive of the Royal Airport Hotel, and Madam Bella Ahu, each for Tourism Promotion.
For the LAAP category, which was held at the Banquet Hall of the State House on the theme, "Repositioning Africa — New Values, New Strategies”, nine individuals were given various awards, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu (South Africa), Eradication of Disease in Africa; Dr Ismail Serageldin (Egypt), Scientific Research in Africa; Mr Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), African Cultural and Traditional Preservation; Mr Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), African Economic Development.
The rest were Sir Dr Chief Gabriel Igbinedion (Nigeria), Leadership in African Chieftaincy; Lord Paul Boateng (Britain), Action for Africa; Mr James Wolfonson (USA), Sustainable Development in Africa, and Asha Hagi (Somalia), African Peace.
The Chairman of the Council of State, Prof Kofi Awoonor, who represented President J.E.A. Mills at the LAAP awards, commended all the award winners and urged them to support in the effort to improve the living conditions of Africans.
He expressed the government's readiness to support the Millennium Excellence Foundation, organisers of the award, in subsequent events.