President John Dramani Mahama has directed Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State Institutions and other political appointees to refrain from participating in, sponsoring, endorsing, attending or accepting awards from private organizations unless they receive express authorization from the Office of the President.
The directive was contained in an official circular dated June 8, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama.
According to the Presidency, the move follows growing concerns about the increasing number of private organizations presenting awards to public officials and portraying them as the “best-performing,” “most outstanding,” or “most influential” office holders.
The circular stated that many of these award schemes are organized by entities that are largely unknown to the public and often operate without transparent, objective or verifiable criteria for evaluating the performance of government officials.
As a result, the Presidency believes the growing trend has the potential to create challenges for public administration and governance.
According to the document, the proliferation of such awards could undermine the integrity of public service and create misconceptions regarding how government performance is assessed.
The Presidency also warned that participation in questionable award schemes could expose the government to unnecessary public criticism and embarrassment.
The directive applies broadly to ministers, chief executive officers of state institutions and other political appointees serving under the current administration.
By restricting participation in private award events without prior approval, the Presidency appears to be seeking greater oversight regarding the recognition and public profiling of government officials.
The circular emphasized that holding public office is a solemn responsibility entrusted to officials by the people of Ghana and should not be measured by awards presented through privately organized ceremonies or commercial recognition schemes.
Instead, the Presidency stated that the true measure of performance should be based on actual outcomes and the impact public officials make through their work.
According to the circular, key indicators of performance should include tangible results, measurable impact, effective service delivery, prudent management of public resources and the successful implementation of government policies and programmes.
The Presidency indicated that these factors provide a more accurate assessment of public service performance than awards conferred by external organizations.
The directive also revealed plans for a future review of the performance of ministers and chief executive officers.
According to the Presidency, a comprehensive evaluation process will be conducted in due course to assess the effectiveness of officials serving in government.
The findings from that review are expected to play an important role in future administrative decisions.
The circular stated that the assessment could influence decisions relating to retention in office, reassignment of responsibilities, cabinet adjustments and broader executive restructuring.
The inclusion of these measures suggests that government performance will be evaluated internally through established administrative processes rather than external recognition schemes.
The latest directive has already generated discussion among governance observers and members of the public, particularly regarding the role private organizations play in recognizing public service.
While award schemes have long been used by some organizations to acknowledge achievements in governance and public administration, concerns have occasionally been raised about transparency, credibility and the methods used to determine recipients.
The Presidency’s position appears to reflect a desire to ensure that public officials remain focused on delivering services and implementing government programmes rather than pursuing recognition from organizations whose assessment standards may be difficult to verify.
The directive further encouraged all affected officials to remain committed to their responsibilities and focus on achieving results that directly benefit Ghanaians.
As government institutions continue to implement policies and development programmes, the Presidency says performance should ultimately be judged by outcomes and service delivery rather than trophies, citations or private recognition events.
The Presidency therefore urged ministers, CEOs and political appointees to concentrate fully on their duties and the expectations of the Ghanaian people rather than seeking validation through external award schemes.
The directive has sparked discussions among governance observers, political analysts and members of the public.
Some observers welcomed the move, arguing that it could strengthen accountability and ensure that public officials remain focused on delivering results rather than pursuing personal recognition.
Others debated the role of private organizations in recognizing excellence within public service, with some suggesting that credible independent institutions can still play a role in highlighting outstanding performance.
Wuni Lawal said: When the horse has already bolted with the rope into thin air
Nana Kwasi Apekoo II said: Does it mean the presidency didn’t see it coming?
Why this communique after the event ?
Romanus Asanga said: is the presidency afraid of another Dr. UN awards loading😂😂😂
Ponds Ponds said: I will not fire them but rather check to see from which fund they paid the award organizers from. If it’s from state funds I will make sure they pay with interest otherwise, normal caution is ok
The development has also prompted conversations about transparency in award schemes and how public office holders should be evaluated.
While opinions remain divided on certain aspects of the directive, many observers agree that performance assessment and accountability remain important issues in public administration.
The Presidency’s latest directive is therefore expected to remain a topic of public discussion as officials adjust to the new guidelines.
