Two days after sitting ministers attended a contentious awards ceremony amid the June 3 floods in Accra, President Mahama banned authorities appointees from accepting personal awards with out presidential permission.
Presidential Secretary Kalistas Mahama signed this letter on June 8, 2026 and copied it to all Ministers of State and Chief Executives of State-Owned Enterprises, directing them to chorus from taking part in, sponsoring, supporting, attending, or accepting awards from personal organizations except expressly licensed by the Workplace of the President.
“Efficiency in workplace can’t be measured by privately organized ceremonies,” the directive states, explaining that organizers of such occasions are self-appointed analysis our bodies whose methodologies and requirements should not established and should not topic to public oversight.
The directive additionally introduced that the Workplace of the President will undertake a complete evaluation of all ministers and heads of presidency within the coming months, the outcomes of which shall be straight mirrored in choices to stay, reassign, and reorganize the federal government.
The speedy impetus was the sixth Ghana Minister of State Excellence Awards held on Saturday June sixth on the Labadi Seashore Lodge in Accra. On the ceremony, Minister of Finance Cassiel Ato Forson was named Finest General Minister, Emmanuel Alma-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Pure Assets was named Finest Male Minister, and Better Accra Regional Minister Linda Okuru was named Finest Regional Minister. Jap Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatei acquired the accolade of Finest Feminine Minister. A number of Ghanaians famous on social media that some ministers attended regardless of Accra being flooded after days of heavy rain.
Professor Michael Kpessa-White, director of the Nationwide Curiosity and Governance Company (SIGA), revealed an opinion piece within the Day by day Graphic, revealing that he declined the award after studying that the organizers have been asking recipients to pay both CHF50,000 for a sponsorship package deal or CHF25,000 for a dinner desk of eight. He described such preparations as mechanisms by which recognition is secured by fee, and argued that public honors should be based mostly on clear analysis and measurable outcomes, quite than monetary contributions.
On Monday, two members of the general public individually petitioned Chief of Workers Julius Debra, calling for an investigation into allegations that some appointees paid between CHF25,000 and CHF50,000 to guard their honor at ceremonies, warning that if confirmed, the funds would undermine public belief in governance.
Linda Okuru defended her award in a radio interview, saying it mirrored her accomplishments and the impression of her work in Better Accra, and that the criticism was as a consequence of political variations. Large Occasion Ghana and its founder Prince Mackay haven’t publicly addressed the alleged funds.
NDC MP for Ketu North Joshua Agbana additionally joined within the criticism, arguing that the association by which organizers solicit sponsorship from state establishments and award them to their chiefs raises questions on their independence and credibility, even when no direct funds are made. He mentioned the state firm’s chief government had privately knowledgeable him that he was withdrawing from the occasion as a consequence of monetary calls for made by the organizers.
The president’s letter mentioned the proliferation of such awards creates misunderstandings about how the federal government evaluates its personal efficiency and dangers exposing the federal government to pointless public criticism and embarrassment. The appointees have been reminded that the true measure of their work lies in delivering on authorities insurance policies and the NDC manifesto, and have been urged to focus solely on outcomes for the advantage of Ghanaians.
