Mahama Bans Ministers, State CEOs From Accepting Private Awards Without Approval

President John Dramani Mahama has directed ministers, chief executive officers of state institutions and other political appointees not to accept awards from private organisations without prior approval from the Presidency, citing concerns about transparency, credibility and public accountability.

ACCRA, Ghana — President John Dramani Mahama has barred ministers, chief executive officers of state institutions and other political appointees from accepting awards from private organisations without express approval from the Office of the President, saying many such schemes lack transparent criteria and risk undermining confidence in public service.

The directive, issued in a letter dated June 8, 2026, and signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, instructs public officials to refrain from participating in, sponsoring, endorsing, attending or accepting awards organised by private entities unless specifically authorised by the Presidency.

According to the Presidency, there has been an increasing trend of ministers, state institution heads and other political appointees receiving honours from organisations that claim to recognise the country’s “best-performing”, “most outstanding” or “most influential” public officials.

The Presidency said many of these organisations are largely unknown to the public and that no transparent, objective or verifiable criteria exist for assessing the performance of public office holders. It warned that the growing number of such awards could undermine the integrity of public service, create misconceptions about government performance and expose public institutions to criticism and embarrassment.

“Public office is a solemn responsibility entrusted to officials by the people of Ghana,” the directive stated, adding that public-sector performance should not be measured by privately organised ceremonies, self-appointed rating bodies or commercial award schemes whose methodologies are not subject to public scrutiny.

Focus on Performance and Service Delivery

The directive emphasises that government remains focused on delivering its commitments to citizens and that the true measure of performance for ministers and chief executive officers lies in their ability to achieve policy objectives, implement programmes and deliver measurable results.

According to the Presidency, ministers and CEOs will be assessed on tangible outcomes, effective service delivery, prudent management of public resources and the successful implementation of government policies and programmes.

The letter also reveals that the Mahama intends to undertake a comprehensive review of the performance of ministers and chief executive officers, with findings expected to inform future decisions on retention in office, reassignment of responsibilities and possible Cabinet or executive restructuring.

The Presidential directive Download

Directive Comes Amid Debate Over Public Awards

The move comes days after the sixth edition of the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards in Accra, an event that recognised several government officials and attracted public discussion over the credibility and selection processes of some privately organised award schemes.

Among the recipients was Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo, who defended her recognition as Best Regional Minister and rejected suggestions that she had paid for the award. Speaking in a radio interview, she argued that her work in sanitation, flood management, dispute resolution and infrastructure development justified the recognition.

The Presidency’s directive does not name any specific award scheme or organisation. However, it states that public officials should devote their attention to delivering results rather than seeking external recognition from organisations whose credibility has been questioned by the Presidency.

Big Events Ghana, organisers of the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards, did not have a response included in the materials reviewed by Nukunya at the time of publication.

Why the Directive Matters

The directive forms part of a broader effort by the Mahama administration to strengthen accountability and performance assessment within government institutions. The Presidency has made clear that future evaluations of ministers and chief executive officers will be based on measurable outcomes and service delivery rather than external recognition. Governance experts have long argued that public confidence in government performance depends on transparent and independently verifiable assessment mechanisms. The Presidency’s latest move signals a desire to ensure that official performance evaluations remain within formal public accountability frameworks rather than privately organised award schemes.

Whether the directive will reshape the relationship between public officials and private recognition bodies remains to be seen, but it marks one of the strongest interventions yet by the Mahama administration on the issue of public-sector awards.