By Leo Nelson
The Presidency has issued a firm directive barring Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State-Owned Enterprises, and other political appointees from participating in or accepting awards from privately organised schemes without official approval, citing concerns over credibility, transparency, and the integrity of public service.
The directive, contained in an official circular signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, follows growing concern over the increasing involvement of public officials in private award ceremonies that claim to recognise “best-performing,” “most outstanding,” or “most influential” government appointees.
According to the Presidency, such practices risk undermining public confidence in governance and distorting how the performance of public officials is perceived.
Concerns over Credibility and Transparency of Award Schemes
The Presidency noted that many of the organisations behind these award schemes are largely unknown to the public, with unclear institutional credentials and no verifiable or transparent criteria for evaluating public sector performance.
It warned that the proliferation of such awards has the potential to damage the credibility of public administration and expose government to unnecessary public criticism.
“His Excellency the President has noted with concern the increasing trend of Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State Institutions, and other public officials participating in and accepting awards from various private organisations purporting to recognise them as the ‘best-performing’, ‘most outstanding’, or ‘most influential’ public office holders.”
It added that the absence of objective standards in many of these schemes makes them unreliable indicators of performance in public office.
Public Office Described as a Solemn Responsibility
The Presidency stressed that public office is a trust conferred on individuals by the people of Ghana and must not be measured through privately organised events or self appointed rating bodies.
It stated that performance in government must be assessed through clear policy outcomes and measurable impact rather than awards from organisations whose methodologies are not subject to public scrutiny.
The statement further cautioned that such practices could mislead the public into forming inaccurate perceptions about government performance.
New Restrictions on Participation in Award Schemes
Under the new directive, all Ministers, Chief Executive Officers of State Institutions, and political appointees have been instructed to refrain from participating in, sponsoring, endorsing, attending, or accepting awards from private organisations unless expressly authorised by the Office of the President.
The Presidency indicated that this measure is intended to restore discipline and ensure that public officials remain focused on their core responsibilities. The directive also extends to indirect forms of participation, including financial sponsorship or promotional involvement in such award events.
The Presidency reiterated that the performance of Ministers and Chief Executive Officers will be assessed through clearly defined government objectives, sector targets, and development indicators rather than external recognition schemes.
“Government remains focused on delivering on its commitments to the people of Ghana. The true measure of the performance of Ministers and Chief Executive Officers is the extent to which they fulfil the policy objectives, programmes, and sector-specific targets outlined in the 2024 National Democratic Congress Manifesto.”
It further emphasized that accountability will be grounded in tangible results, effective service delivery, and prudent management of public resources.
Planned Performance Review for Public Officials
The Presidency also revealed that a comprehensive performance review of Ministers and Chief Executive Officers will be conducted in due course. According to the statement, the outcome of this review will play a key role in determining decisions on retention, reassignment, or restructuring within government.
This signals a renewed focus on results based governance and institutional accountability across the public sector.
Public officials have been urged to concentrate fully on their mandates and avoid distractions associated with external recognition schemes.
The Presidency stated that attention should be directed toward delivering services to citizens and achieving measurable development outcomes.
It added that government remains committed to ensuring that public trust is preserved and that governance is guided by integrity and performance rather than ceremonial recognition.
Growing Controversy around Private Awards
The directive comes amid ongoing public debate over the legitimacy of private award schemes targeting government officials. Critics have raised concerns about “cash for awards” allegations, where some organisers are accused of charging participants significant fees in exchange for recognition.
There are also concerns about the credibility of some awarding bodies, many of which operate without clear evaluation standards or verified institutional backing.
Additionally, some state institutions have been criticised for allegedly using public funds or internally generated revenue to sponsor award events, raising questions about the use of taxpayer resources.
Government Reinforces Accountability Stance
The Presidency concluded by reaffirming its commitment to strengthening accountability within public service and ensuring that performance is judged through objective and transparent systems.
It expressed appreciation for the cooperation of all Ministers, Deputy Ministers of State and Chief Executive Officers in adhering to the directive.
The statement, signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, emphasized that the government remains focused on delivering results for the people of Ghana and expects public officials to align their actions with that objective.