President John Dramani Mahama has directed his appointees to desist from participating in award ceremonies from organisations meant to honour them as exhibiting outstanding performances in their respective roles.
A statement from the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, on Monday, June 8, 2026, noted that all “Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State Institutions, and other public officials participating in and accepting awards from various private organisations purporting to recognise them as the “best-performing”, “most outstanding”, or “most influential” public office holders” must desist from such.
The statement follows an award ceremony organised over the weekend to honour some government appointees which has generated controversy.
There have been allegations that winners of the awards paid money for the recognition, with some government appointees revealing they were contacted to pay to be awarded which they rejected.
In the statement, Dr. Mahama said no government appointee should accept any award from any organisation without authorisation from the presidency, per the directives of the President John Dramani Mahama.
“His Excellency, therefore, directs that all Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State Institutions, and other political appointees refrain from participating in, sponsoring, endorsing, attending, or accepting awards from such organisations unless expressly authorised by the Office of the President,” portions of the statement contained.
The statement added that the Presidency, will in due course, “undertake a comprehensive review of the performance of Ministers and Chief Executive Officers.”
It added that “the findings of this review shall constitute a key basis for decisions relating to retention in office, reassignment of responsibilities, and any future Cabinet or executive restructuring.”
Government has further advised all appointees to remain true to the cause of the ‘Reset Agenda’, rather than engaging in such schemes with “questionable credibility.”
“Public officials are therefore encouraged to devote their full attention to the execution of their mandates and the delivery of results for the people of Ghana rather than seeking or participating in external recognition schemes of questionable credibility.”
