Akufo-Addo honours Herbert Mensah at National Honours and Awards 2024

In a day that celebrated the outstanding contributions of Ghanaian individuals to the nation’s growth, Herbert Mensah, the prominent businessman, philanthropist, and sports administrator, was among those honoured at the National Honours and Awards ceremony held on Monday, December 30, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Mensah, the current President of Rugby Africa and an Executive Board Member of World Rugby, received accolades for his exceptional contributions to sports development and philanthropy, both in Ghana and across Africa. The prestigious ceremony, presided over by Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, recognised individuals whose dedication and achievements have significantly advanced the nation’s development.

With a career spanning over three decades, Herbert Mensah has proven to be a trailblazer in several fields. From his transformative leadership as Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, one of Ghana’s most beloved football clubs, to his strategic roles in some of Africa’s largest corporate entities, Mensah’s influence has been profound. He has not only played an integral part in the rise of rugby in Ghana, but also revolutionized the way sports and business intersect, fostering both sectors’ growth on the continent.

His tenure at the helm of the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) was pivotal. Under his leadership, rugby saw substantial growth, gaining recognition both locally and internationally. His role as President of Rugby Africa further solidified his position as a key figure in African sports, advocating for the development of rugby on the continent and building connections with global sports organisations.

But Mensah’s influence extends beyond the sporting world. A graduate of the University of Sussex in the UK, he made significant strides in the business world, leading distributorships for global brands such as Motorola and Nokia in Africa. His work in pioneering the cellular phone industry on the continent marked him as a forward-thinking innovator.

Mensah’s philanthropic efforts are equally noteworthy. He is the driving force behind the May 9th Foundation, which supports the victims of the tragic 2001 Accra Sports Stadium disaster, and the Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, which aids children with critical health needs. His commitment to these causes reflects his belief in using his success to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.

Throughout his career, Herbert Mensah has been unwavering in his belief that sports are a powerful platform for youth empowerment and regional cooperation. He has dedicated his life to leveraging the unifying power of sports to create opportunities for the younger generation, while fostering cross-border collaborations that benefit not just Ghana but Africa as a whole.

In an industry where passion and leadership often intersect, Mensah exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose. His work continues to inspire, showing that true leadership is not only about personal success but about lifting others as you rise. His honour at the National Honours and Awards ceremony is a testament to the legacy he is building, both on the sports field and beyond.

The ceremony featured a distinguished group of honorees, including high-ranking government officials such as Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was awarded the Order of the Star of Ghana – Officer Award. In addition to government appointees and Members of Parliament, the awards recognized individuals and institutions from diverse fields, all of whom have made significant contributions to the nation’s development.

The prestigious awards covered a variety of categories, including:

Presidential Honours for Distinguished Service

Grand Medal

Order of the Volta

Member of the Order of the Volta

Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana

Member of the Order of the Star of Ghana, Officer

A Celebration of the Ghanaian Spirit

Below is the full list of the 2024 award recipients:

Order of the Star of Ghana – Officer Awardee

• Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana – Public Service

Order of the Star of Ghana – Member Awardees

• Prof Ato Essuman – Education / Public Service
• Nana Susubiribi Krobea Asante – Traditional Leadership / Public Service
• Marcus Garvey – (Posthumous) Pan Africanism
• Justice Anin Yeboah – Judiciary/Public Service
• Sam Okudzeto – Law/Public Service
• Akosua Frema Osei-Opare – Public Service
• Dr Ernest Addison – Financial /Public Service

Order of the Volta – Companion Awardees

• Ambassador Mercy Yvonne Debrah-Karikari – Public Service / Cabinet
• Ibrahim Magassa – Public Service / Finance
• Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu – Public Service

Order of the Volta – Member Awardees

• Nana Kwasi Agyekum Dwamena – Public Service
• Prof Paul Kwame Nyame – Health/Public Service
• Dr James Orleans-Lindsay – Real Estate/Construction
• Bright Appiah – Civil Society / Child Advocacy
• Eric Ebo Acquah – Real Estate / Landscaping
• Dr Richard Kwadwo Odor – Health / Public Service
• Dr Kofi Nsiah Poku (Pharmacist) – Business/Health
• Dr Stephen Saforo Yirenkyi – Spatial Planning/Public Service
• Dr Patrick Bamph Owiredu – Health/Public Service
• Kwaw Paintsil Ansah – Creative Arts
• Erastus Asare Donkor – Media/Journalism
• Margaret Anane-Agyei – Education/Counselor
• Mercy Naa Aforwa Needjan – Market Development
• Salma Salifu – Creative Arts / Fashion
• Herbert A. Mensah – Sports Development
• Yaw Debra Ofori – Education/ Advocacy
• Kwesi A. Busia – Transport/Innovation
• Dr Janet Ampadu Fofie – Public Service
• Godfred Yeboah Dame – Public Service
• Dr Mohammed Amin Adam – Public Service
• Bryan Acheampong – Public Service
• John Peter Amewu
• Joe Osei Owusu – Public Service
• Francis Asenso Boakye – Public Service
• Samuel Abu Jinapor – Public Service
• Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum – Public Service
• Brig Gen Emmanuel Okyere – Public Service
• Edward Asomani – Public Service
• DCOP (Rtd) David Senanu Eklu – Public Service
• Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil – Health
• Prof Henry Nii Adziri Wellington – Architecture / Education/ Public Service
• Prof E.H.K. Akaho – Science/Technology
• Rev Prof Gilbert Ansre – Religion /Publishing
• Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto – Public Service
• Dominic Nitiwul – Public Service
• Ambrose Dery – Public Service
• Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh – Public Service
• Ignatius Baffour Awuah – Public Service
• Kwaku Ofori Asiamah – Public Service
• Ursula Owusu-Ekuful – Public Service
• Kwasi Amoako-Atta – Public Service
• Dr Kwaku Afriyie – Public Service
• Mavis Hawa Koomson

Order of the Volta – Officer Awardees

• DCOP (RTD.) David Senanu Eklu – Public Service
• Prof Dr Ing Henry Nii Adziri Wellington – Architecture/ Education/ Public Service
• Rev Prof Gilbert Ansre – Religion/ Publishing
• Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul – Public Service
• Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil – Health
• Prof E.H.K. Akaho – Science/ Technology
• Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto – Public Service
• Ambrose Dery – Public Service

Grand Medal Awardees

• Mariama Mahama – Education
• Hajia Katumi Natogmah Attah – Education
• Philippa Larsen – Education
• Albert K. Frimpong – Sports
• Ayishetu Adam – Sports
• Dr Paul Kofi Fynn – Media / Media Education
• Dr Fareeda Adusei Wilson – Health / Public Service
• Dr Nick Danso Abiam Adjei – Business /Entrepreneurship
• Mrs Mawunyo Kuma Yakor-Dajbah – Advocacy
• Dr Jemima Araba Dennis-Antwi – Health
• Davies Narh Korboe – Public Service
• Dr Evans Agbeme Dzikum – Public Service
• DCFO (Rtd) Ahaji Richard Nuhu Gibril – Security Services
• Gyedu Blay Ambolley – Creative Arts
• Charles Kwadwo Fosu (Daddy Lumba) – Creative Arts
• Alice Ofori-Atta – Public Service
• Dr Edwin Alfred Nii Obodai Provencal – Public Service
• Ekow Hackman – Public Service
• Dr Richard Ampofo Boadu – Public Service
• Dr Maxwell Opoku-Afari – Financial/Public Service
• Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi – Financial/ Public Service
• Capt. Edmund Kojo Koda – Public Service
• Dr Mustapha Hamid – Public Service
• Mrs Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey – Local Government / Public Service
• Emmanuel Adumua Bossman – Public Service
• Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante – Creative Arts