DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES, COUNCILS AND COURTS RECOGNIZED AT MARSHALLAN 90TH ANNIVERSARY AWARDS
STORY BY: FRANCIS E. MONNIE
Several distinguished personalities, Councils and Courts were recognized at a colourful awards event held recently at the Akroma Plaza in Takoradi as part of the year-long series of activities to close the 90th anniversary celebration and usher in the 100th anniversary of the of the Knights of Marshall.
The highly patronized event was graced by His Excellency, Most Rev. Jean-Marie Speich, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana and Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie CSSp, Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Sir Kt. Vet. Bro. Cdr. Dr. E.S.K. Kwaw, Supreme Director of the Knights of Marshall, Sir Kt. Bro. Ernest Amoako-Arhen, Supreme Knight, MRL Sis. Alice Stella Ayebi, Grand Lady of the Ladies of Marshall.
Eight substantive Past Supreme Knights and six Grand Ladies, including Sir Bro. James Adomako, Sir Kt. Bro. Prof. Dr. Dr. George Wereko Brobby, Sir Kt. Bro. Eddie Prah, Dame MRL Sis. Theresa Poobe, MRL Sister Margaret Yirenkyi and MRL Sis. Edith Mmieh were also in attendance.
Also present were Supreme and Grand Court Councillors, Regional Grand Knights and Noble Ladies, Sir Knights and Worthy Brothers and scores of Knights and Ladies of the Marshallan fraternity from across the Country and her foreign branches in Togo, Benin, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and London.
The award winners were recognized in four categories and presented with 90th Anniversary commemorative plaques and medals for playing various roles towards the upliftment of the Society. Two top Councils and Courts were also recognized in two other categories.
In the highest awards category, a total of 64 personalities including the Supreme Director, Supreme Knight, Grand Lady, substantive past Supreme Knights, Grand Ladies and others selected from the Regional Councils, were recognized and awarded plagues. 30 others were similarly recognized in the runner up category and awarded plaques.
In the category of long membership, 170 personalities with 25 years membership of the Society and above and 184 others with 40 years membership and above, were recognized and awarded medals.
His Excellency, Most Rev. Jean-Marie Speich, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana and Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie CSSp, Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, were recognized in the category of special awards for partaking in the 90th anniversary activities and delivering the Marshall-Murat-Moreau memorial lectures respectively, and were presented with plaques.
Also, under the same category of special awards, Council No. 1, Sekondi, Court No. 1, Kumasi and Junior Council 1J, Cape Coast, were awarded for their torch bearers roles as pioneers of the Society.
The Supreme Director’s Award for the League Champions of the Marshallan Security Trust was won by Council 94, Adenta and Court 105, New Aplaku for coming tops of the 126 Councils and 120 Courts of the Society as of September 30, 2016. They were each presented with a glittering trophy.
The UMB Capital Award for the best Council of the year 2016 was won by Council No. 48, Accra West, while the Court counterpart award was won by Court No. 40, also of Accra West. Both Council and Court were presented with a trophy.
Earlier, the Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, on whose land the Society was founded in 1926, had been presented with a plaque.
The high point of the event which had patrons treated to a live band, was the cutting of the 90th anniversary cake by the Supreme Director, assisted by the Supreme Knight and Grand Lady.