The Presidency has directed all Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of state institutions, and other political appointees to stop participating in or accepting awards from private organisations without prior approval from the Office of the President.
The directive was issued by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, following concerns raised by President John Dramani Mahama over the rising number of private awards given to public officials as “best-performing”, “most outstanding”, or “most influential” leaders.
According to the Presidency, many of the organisations behind these awards are not widely known, have unclear credentials, and operate without transparent or verifiable criteria for assessing public sector performance.
The statement warned that such practices risk undermining public trust, distorting perceptions of government performance, and exposing the administration to unnecessary criticism.
It stressed that public office is a responsibility to citizens and that performance should be assessed through measurable results, effective service delivery, and implementation of government policies rather than privately organised award schemes.
Public officials have therefore been instructed to avoid attending, sponsoring, endorsing, or accepting such awards unless they receive express authorisation from the Office of the President.
The Presidency added that government will instead evaluate the performance of Ministers and Chief Executive Officers based on tangible outcomes, prudent management of public resources, and progress on national development targets, including commitments outlined in the NDC 2024 manifesto.
It also announced that a comprehensive performance review of all Ministers and CEOs will be conducted, with outcomes expected to influence future decisions on appointments, reassignments, and restructuring within government.
The directive follows recent criticism of private award events, including the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards held on June 6, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, where several officials were recognised for various categories of leadership and performance.
Among the awardees were Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo, who received Best Regional Minister; Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, named Best Male Performing Minister; Deputy Minister of Transport Dorcas Toffey, who was adjudged Best Deputy Minister; and Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, who received Best Female Minister.
The event, attended by government officials and traditional leaders including the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, highlighted what organisers described as excellence in public service, though the Presidency now insists such recognitions must not substitute formal performance evaluation.
Source: citinews
