President Bans Ministers, CEOs from Accepting Unverified Awards

Jun 9, 2026 - 09:21

0 5

President Bans Ministers, CEOs from Accepting Unverified Awards

The Presidency has directed all ministers of state, chief executive officers of state institutions, and other political appointees to refrain from participating in or accepting awards from private organisations without prior approval from the Office of the President.

The directive follows growing concerns by His Excellency the President over what he describes as an increasing trend of public officials receiving accolades from largely unknown organisations claiming to recognise them as "best-performing", “most outstanding", or “most influential".

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, the Presidency noted that many of these awarding bodies lack credibility, transparency, and verifiable assessment criteria, raising questions about the legitimacy of such honours.

According to the statement, the proliferation of these awards risks undermining the integrity of public service, creating false impressions about government performance, and exposing the administration to public criticism and embarrassment.

“Public office is a solemn responsibility entrusted to officials by the people of Ghana. Performance cannot be measured by privately organised ceremonies or commercial award schemes whose standards are not subject to public scrutiny,” the statement emphasised.

The directive explicitly instructs government appointees to avoid sponsoring, endorsing, attending, or accepting such awards unless they receive express authorisation from the presidency.

The government reiterated that the true measure of performance for ministers and chief executive officers lies in their ability to deliver on policy objectives, implement programmes, and achieve sector-specific targets outlined in the 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto and the broader national development agenda.

Officials are to be assessed based on tangible outcomes, measurable impact, effective service delivery, prudent management of public resources, and the successful execution of government policies.

The presidency further disclosed that a comprehensive performance review of ministers and chief executive officers will be conducted in due course. The outcome of this review will play a critical role in decisions regarding retention, reassignment, and any future cabinet or executive restructuring.

Public officials have therefore been urged to focus on delivering results for the Ghanaian people rather than seeking recognition from external award schemes of questionable credibility.

The directive has been circulated to all ministers of state, chief executive officers of state-owned enterprises, the vice president, and the chief of staff at the Jubilee House in Accra.