PAWA honours Prof Benneh, 25 others

A former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning in the President Hilla Liman’s government and also a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. George Benneh, has been made a Life Time Noble Patron of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA).

This is in recognition of his writings in geography, agriculture and rural development.

Other awardees

He was honoured together with others in various categories of patronage such as Grand and Noble Patron of the Arts.

The awards were conferred on them at a dinner to climax the 22nd International African Writers Day on the theme, “Celebrating the life & works of Chinua Achebe: The Coming of Age of African Literature.”

Prof. Benneh was given a certificate, a gold medal and a traditional stool symbolising royalty.

Honour

He later told the Daily Graphic that he felt honoured to be in the league of the first President of the country and founder of Pan Africanism, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and distinguished creative writers such as Mamadou Traore Diop of Senegal and Festus Iyayi of Nigeria, who had received the same award before him.

He said others who had been so honoured were Mr Yaw Osafo Marfo, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Dr Joyce Aryee, retired Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, distinguished industrialist, Sir Sam Jonah and distinguished diplomat, poet and his teacher, Mr K. B. Asante.

Gratitude

Prof. Benneh thanked God for the gift of life and for the fact that at the ripe age of over 82, he could write books which had attracted the attention of PAWA to honour him with the prestigious award.

He also thanked his wife, Mrs Adelaide Benneh, children and grandchildren, as well as all those who had helped in his up-keep and offered services and encouragement to keep him alive.