Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has issued a warning to ministers of state and chief executive officers (CEOs) of state agencies regarding their participation in private award schemes and related events without prior approval from the Presidency.
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement released by Dr Callistus Mahama, the Executive Secretary to the President, highlighted the President's concerns over the growing trend of public officials engaging in and accepting awards from private organizations. These awards often purport to recognize officials as 'best performing', 'most outstanding', or 'most influential', despite the organizations being largely unknown, with unclear credentials and lacking transparent criteria for evaluating public officials.
The statement emphasized that the proliferation of such awards could potentially undermine the integrity of public service, create misconceptions about government performance assessments, and expose the Government to unnecessary public criticism and embarrassment. Public office, it noted, is a responsibility entrusted by the people of Ghana, and performance should not be measured by privately organized ceremonies or commercial award schemes with questionable methodologies.
The President has directed that all ministers, CEOs of state institutions, and other political appointees must refrain from engaging with such award entities unless expressly authorized by the Office of the President. The Government remains committed to fulfilling its promises to the people of Ghana, focusing on policy objectives, programs, and targets as outlined in the 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto and the Government's development agenda.
The statement further reminded officials that their performance would be judged based on tangible outcomes, measurable impact, and effective service delivery, rather than external recognition. It also announced that the Presidency would conduct a comprehensive review of the performance of ministers and CEOs, which would influence decisions regarding their retention, reassignment, and any future Cabinet restructuring.
The statement concluded by encouraging public officials to concentrate on their official duties and delivering results for the Ghanaian people, rather than seeking external recognition from questionable sources. The President conveyed his highest consideration and appreciation for their cooperation in this matter.