The Councils of the National Orders have been meeting in Yaounde since yesterday to examine the files of persons proposed for the award of various categories of medals on the occasion of this year's National Day celebrations on 20 May. Mr Peter Mafany Musonge, Grand Chancellor of National Orders, is presiding at the three-day meeting. It is common practice every year to reward selected individuals with national medals in recognition for their meritorious services or achievements in various walks of life.

The practice of bestowing civil or military honours for valour is not unique to Cameroon. It dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans and gained prevalence with the medieval custom of conferring knighthood. The French Commissioner of Cameroon established the Order of Merit for Native Labour in 1924 to recognize service rendered to cultural organizations, development of natural resources or the development of commerce and industry.

The importance of the practice is clearly illustrated by the fact that the service in charge of medal awards is directly attached to the Presidency of the Republic and headed by a Grand Chancellor having cabinet rank.

Yet the practice and criteria for the award of medals of honour has many unanswered questions. What are the criteria for selecting candidates? Is it normal for an individual to personally apply to be decorated? Do persons who have earned a medal award enjoy any special privileges or advantages?

Many have criticized the practice of candidates applying for medal award. The government ought to have established a mechanism by which individual citizens are identified for the award of medals in recognition for their achievements. More often than not proposals are made to favour friends or relations and not for concrete achievements made.

A careful study of the system reveals that most of those decorated come from the corps of administration because the files are processed by officials of the administration. Is it also a known fact that some of those who are decorated are of questionable conduct in the society, which raises questions about the value of medal awards.

Last week, the nation was stunned when a senior government official decorates only last service to the nation, was remanded in custody at the Kondengui prison awaiting trial for impropriety in the handling of public funds, committed long before .

Another issue of concern is the advantages or privileges enjoyed by those carrying medal decorations. For decorations to be worth the salt, those who achieve such distinctions should enjoy public recognition and privileges over those who haven't.

Even in our traditional societies today title holders enjoy prerogatives in public and are highly respected by members of the communities in which they have been honoured.

The Grand Chancellery of National Orders ought to examine the possibilities of completely reviewing and modernizing the procedure for the award of medals so as to give the exercise greater credibility. There will be greater value and credibility if the individual were selected secretly for his achievements and honoured with a state decoration.

Many prominent heroes have died unrecognized because they either failed or refused to apply for the award. A medal award bestowed by the government on an individual who did not apply will bring with it a sense of pride and achievement and will have more value in the eyes of the public.