President John Dramani Mahama has directed all Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of state institutions, and other political appointees to refrain from participating in or accepting awards from private organizations without prior authorization from the Office of the President.
The directive, contained in a circular signed by Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, follows growing concerns over what the Presidency describes as the increasing proliferation of private award schemes claiming to recognize public officials as the “best-performing,” “most outstanding,” or “most influential” office holders.
According to the statement, many of the organizations conferring such awards are not widely known to the public, while the criteria used to assess performance are often unclear and lack transparency.
The Presidency warned that the growing trend could undermine the integrity of public service, create misconceptions about how government performance is evaluated, and expose the government to public criticism and embarrassment.
“Public office is a solemn responsibility entrusted to officials by the people of Ghana,” the statement said, adding that performance in office cannot be measured through privately organized ceremonies, self-appointed rating bodies, or commercial award schemes whose methodologies are not subject to public scrutiny.
As a result, the President has directed all ministers, chief executives, and political appointees to refrain from participating in, sponsoring, endorsing, attending, or accepting awards from such organizations unless expressly authorized by the Presidency.
The statement emphasized that government remains focused on delivering its commitments to Ghanaians and that the true measure of performance lies in the achievement of policy objectives, implementation of government programmes, and the attainment of sector-specific targets.
According to the Presidency, the performance of ministers and CEOs will be assessed based on measurable outcomes, effective service delivery, prudent management of public resources, and the successful implementation of government policies and programmes.
The directive further noted that the Presidency will, in due course, undertake a comprehensive review of the performance of ministers and chief executive officers.
The findings of that review, it said, will play a significant role in determining decisions regarding retention in office, reassignment of responsibilities, and any future cabinet or executive restructuring.
The Presidency therefore urged public officials to devote their full attention to executing their mandates and delivering tangible results rather than seeking recognition through external award schemes of questionable credibility.
Dr. Callistus Mahama called for the full cooperation of all ministers and chief executives in complying with the directive, which takes immediate effect.
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Source: www.kumasimail.com
