A retired diplomat, Mr. K.B. Asante, has called on Ghanaians to accommodate divergent opinions and help build the nation’s unity by according the National Awards the honour the event deserves. He said even though a lot of questions need to be answered on the modalities used in coming out with the list, the tension that has met the awards needs to be calmed as it will not serve the nation any good if people go on demeaning the awards. “I think the controversy surrounding the awards is understandable but unnecessary, we shouldn’t make moves to ridicule it but rather right what is wrong,” he stated. The former Diplomat made the appeal in an interview with Ekourba Gyasi on Adom Dwaso Nsem on Monday. According to Mr. Asante he also has reservations about the awards but for national unity he will honour it. He said his nomination was confirmed to him by friends and relations. “I haven’t received any official communication from anybody, I only saw my nomination in the press, I left the scene long ago and I don’t know why I am being honoured” he posited. K.B Asante’s appeal follows recent controversies that have hit the awards list that was announced a few weeks ago. Like K.B. Asante, many have questioned the criteria for selecting the nominees for the awards. The National Democratic Congress has issued a directive for all its officials nominated for the national honours decline the offer. The statement called for a review of the entire process of conferment of state awards to, as the party put it, “restore relevance and pride to national honours”. Until this condition is met, the party has asked that all party officials nominated to boycott the event. Kojo Addo, Adom FM