By Collins Sarkodieh 
The Office of the President has officially directed all Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of state institutions, and political appointees to cease accepting awards from private organizations.
This new mandate requires officials to seek prior authorization from the Presidency before participating in or endorsing any such recognition programs.
The directive comes directly from President John Dramani Mahama following significant concerns regarding the recent proliferation of honorific titles. Many of these private bodies present awards for being the “best-performing” or “most outstanding” officials without using transparent or verifiable criteria.
The Presidency warns that this trend threatens the integrity of public service. Such ceremonies often lack clear credentials, which creates public misconceptions about how the government evaluates the performance of its appointees.
Participation in these commercial schemes risks exposing the government to unnecessary criticism and embarrassment. Public office is a solemn responsibility, and genuine performance measurement remains a task for official government review rather than private, non-scrutinized entities.
Consider these critical insights regarding the new presidential directive and official performance standards:
- Public officials must refrain from sponsoring, endorsing, or attending private award events unless they receive express authorization from the Office of the President.
- The government will assess the performance of its appointees based on tangible outcomes, measurable impact, and the prudent management of public resources.
- Future executive decisions, including the retention or reassignment of ministers and CEOs, will depend on a comprehensive government review rather than external trophies.
- The government remains focused on its policy commitments, such as those outlined in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto.
- Officials are urged to prioritize the delivery of government programs over seeking recognition through external schemes with difficult-to-verify credibility.
This directive follows the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards held on June 6, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel. Several officials attended that ceremony, including Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo and Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah.
Other honorees at the recent event included Deputy Minister of Transport Dorcas Toffey and Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey. While these events celebrate leadership, the Presidency insists that the focus must shift back to service delivery.
Ultimately, the administration expects appointees to dedicate their full attention to the development agenda. True recognition will stem from the successful implementation of policies that benefit the people of Ghana.
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Source: Ghananewspage.com