News
Edem Agbana calls for ethical standards in awards for public officials
Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, has called for stricter ethical standards in the recognition of public officials, raising concerns about the credibility of awards that receive sponsorship from institutions supervised by award recipients.
In a statement titled “Public Office, Public Trust,” Mr. Agbana said he supports recognising public officials who perform their duties well and make a positive impact on the lives of Ghanaians.
He noted that public service requires sacrifice, commitment and leadership, and that exceptional performance deserves acknowledgement.
However, he questioned whether public officials should receive awards from events that solicit sponsorships or financial contributions from institutions they oversee.
According to him, public recognition should be based solely on performance, measurable outcomes and genuine impact, and should not be linked directly or indirectly to financial contributions.
“When organisers seek sponsorship from institutions and subsequently honour officials from those same institutions, they create legitimate concerns about fairness, independence and credibility,” he stated.
Mr. Agbana said such arrangements could weaken public trust and diminish the value of genuine excellence, even where no wrongdoing has occurred.
He cited allegations made by Michael Kpessah-White, who reportedly claimed that organisers requested payment in connection with an award nomination.
He further revealed that a public sector Chief Executive Officer privately shared a similar experience with him and decided not to participate in the event after organisers allegedly made financial demands.
The MP said the allegations raise serious concerns and should be subjected to careful scrutiny.
Addressing public discussions surrounding the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards, Mr. Agbana clarified that the awards were not organised by the government but by a private event management company.
He noted that the awards were not being held for the first time, explaining that public officials under the previous administration also participated in and sponsored similar events.
According to him, the fact that previous administrations engaged in the practice does not justify its continuation.
“We criticised many of these practices in the past because we believed they weakened accountability and encouraged mediocrity. We should not defend them today,” he said.
Mr. Agbana stressed that Ghanaians elected the current government on a promise of reform and therefore expect higher standards, stronger public institutions and greater accountability.
He disclosed that after engaging with Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, she assured him that government would develop a regulatory framework to guide the Corporate Social Responsibility activities of State-Owned Enterprises.
According to him, the committee responsible for the framework has already begun its work.
He welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that it would establish clear standards that promote transparency, accountability and good governance.
Mr. Agbana urged public officials to conduct themselves in ways that strengthen public confidence in state institutions, adding that excellence should be recognised on merit and performance rewarded fairly.
He said Ghanaians would judge the government’s Reset Agenda by the policies it implements and the standards it upholds, rather than by rhetoric alone.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
