National Democratic Congress flag-bearer, Professor John Evans Atta Mills is the latest to plunge the controversial National Awards, slated for July 3, 2008, into further controversy. Sources deep within the country’s largest opposition party tell Myjoyonline that Professor Mills will not be available to receive the award, criticised on many platforms since it was announced some three weeks ago. Professor Mills is nominated for the Order of the Star-Companion Award, now the second highest national award, alongside Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene. Others nominated for the same category of award are the Nayiri NaaBohugu Mahami Shirigu, Paramount Chief of Mamprugu, Yagbonwura Bawa Doshie, Paramount Chief and member of the Committee of Eminent Persons for Resolution of the Dagbon Chieftaincy issues and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, New Patriotic Party presidential candidate. A new category, the Grand Order of the Star and Eagles of Ghana (for Presidents of the Republic of Ghana), is the latest addition to the awards and will see President J.A. Kufuor receive the national honour. The sources would not tell if Prof Mills is travelling out of the country or not but insist he will not be at the ceremony to honour over 240 Ghanaians with national awards. “Prof. Mills will want to concentrate on his national campaign efforts for now,” was all the sources would divulge. Meanwhile another NDC dye-in-the-wool, veteran politician Harry Sawyerr, will also not be at the function to receive his award. Sources close to the member of the NDC’s Council of Elders said he is bereaved, having lost a son last Thursday. Several people, including the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Assin North, Kennedy Agyepong, have criticised the national awards list. Mr. Agyepong said the profiles of some of the nominees for the awards made nonsense of its dignity and essence. He specifically mentioned the name of Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President and Presidential Spokesperson, questioning how he (Awuni) could be honoured simply for serving as the Press Secretary to the President for barely two years. Minority Leader Alban Bagbin, also nominated for an award, has rejected it claiming he does not believe he deserves it at this time in his political career. Bagbin also noted that the listing of President Kufuor for a national award amounts to creating a culture of “self glorification”. Former President Rawlings and a former national security adviser, Captain Kojo Tsikata on Monday rejected the awards with Tsikata arguing that he did not know the mental processes that led to his name being included in the list.