The Presidency has instructed all ministers of state, chief executive officers of state institutions, and political appointees to avoid participating in or accepting awards from private organisations unless they receive prior approval from the Office of the President.
The directive, signed by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, follows concerns expressed by President John Dramani Mahama regarding the increasing number of private entities presenting awards to public officials as the “best-performing”, “most outstanding”, or “most influential” officeholders.
According to the Presidency, many of these award-giving organisations are relatively unknown, lack clearly established credentials, and do not provide transparent or verifiable criteria for evaluating the performance of public servants.
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In a statement, the Presidency noted that the growing trend of public officials accepting such honours raises concerns about the credibility of these recognitions and their potential impact on public trust.
The statement further warned that the proliferation of privately organised awards could weaken the integrity of public service, create misconceptions about how government performance is measured, and expose the administration to unnecessary criticism and reputational risks.
The presidency emphasised that public office is a responsibility entrusted by the people of Ghana and that the performance of government officials should not be determined through private award schemes or ceremonies whose standards and assessment methods are not open to public scrutiny.
As a result, all public officials have been directed to refrain from participating in, sponsoring, endorsing, attending, or accepting awards from such organisations unless explicit authorisation is granted by the Office of the President.
The government reiterated its commitment to implementing its policy agenda and development programmes, particularly those outlined in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 2024 manifesto and other agreed performance benchmarks.
It stressed that the performance of ministers and chief executive officers would be evaluated based on measurable results, effective service delivery, prudent management of public resources, tangible impact, and the successful execution of government policies and programmes.
The presidency also announced plans to undertake a comprehensive performance review of ministers and chief executive officers.
The outcome of the assessment will play a significant role in decisions relating to retention, reassignment of responsibilities, and future changes within the executive branch.
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Public officials have therefore been encouraged to focus on achieving results rather than pursuing recognition through external award schemes whose credibility may be difficult to verify.
The directive comes shortly after a number of government officials were recognised at the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards, held on June 6, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
During the event, Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo was honoured as Best Regional Minister, while Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah received the Best Male Performing Minister award.
Deputy Transport Minister and Jomoro MP Dorcas Toffey was named Best Deputy Minister, while Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey was awarded Best Female Minister.
The ceremony brought together government officials, traditional authorities, and key stakeholders to celebrate achievements in public service and leadership. Among the distinguished guests was the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.