President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been awarded France’s highest national honour, the National de la Légion d’Honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honour).
During a ceremony at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France, yesterday, President Emmanuel Macron conferred upon President Akufo-Addo the “Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour).
The National Order of the Legion of Honour is the highest merit award given by the French Republic to individuals who have rendered exceptional services to France or defended causes that align with France’s ideals, such as democracy, human rights, press freedom, and humanitarian efforts.
The award was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and has been upheld by all French governments since the 19th century.
The Order is divided into five ranks: Grand Cross (Grand-croix), Grand Officer (Grand officier), Commander (Commandeur), Officer (Officier), and Knight (Chevalier), with the Grand Cross being the highest.
The French President, as the Grand Master of the Order, awards the honour to deserving individuals.
Previous recipients include former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former President of the Swiss Confederation Pascal Couchepin, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former Italian Prime Minister Massimo d’Alema, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the ceremony, President Macron commended President Akufo-Addo for his commitment to democracy, human rights, and strengthening Ghana-France diplomatic ties.
While on a one-day state visit to France, President Akufo-Addo held bilateral talks with President Macron, spoke at an event organized by France Volontaires, the French platform for international volunteering, and participated in a high-level event by UNESCO honoring the first African Director-General of UNESCO, Amadou Mahtar-M’Bow.
Sorbonne University bestows honorary doctorate
In a related recognition, Sorbonne University awarded President Akufo-Addo an honorary doctorate for his contributions to democracy in Ghana, regional peace, education access, and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is his fourth honorary doctorate, joining notable figures such as Pablo Picasso and Kofi Annan.
President addresses global challenges
During his acceptance speech, President Akufo-Addo addressed pressing issues, including climate change, economic equity, and the need for multilateral reforms. He noted that Africa contributes only 4% of global emissions but faces severe impacts, urging more global support for African adaptation efforts.
The importance of fairer societies
President Akufo-Addo underscored the duty of African leaders to create fair societies with equitable access to water, energy, healthcare, and education, citing Ghana’s policy of free public high school education as a significant achievement under his administration.
Calls for multilateral system reform
Acknowledging a changing world, President Akufo-Addo advocated for reforming outdated multilateral systems established post-World War II, asserting that today’s global challenges demand a fairer framework for all nations.
Ghana’s commitment to peace and dialogue
Condemning Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to a world where disputes are resolved through dialogue rather than force, aligning with Ghana’s long-standing values as the first sub-Saharan nation to achieve independence.
