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Refrain from awards from doubtful organisers – President Mahama to all appointees
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President John Dramani Mahama has directed all Ministers of State, Chief Executives of State Institutions, and political appointees to stop accepting awards from private organisations without express approval from the Presidency.
In a letter signed by Secretary to the President Dr. Callistus Mahama, the President expressed concern over the growing trend of public officials receiving “best-performing” and “most influential” awards from little-known private bodies.
The letter noted that most of these organisations lack public credibility, transparent criteria, or verifiable methods for assessing performance.
The President warned that such awards risk undermining public service integrity, creating false impressions about government performance, and exposing the administration to criticism.
“Public office is a solemn responsibility entrusted to officials by the people of Ghana. Performance cannot be measured by privately organised ceremonies or commercial award schemes whose standards are neither established nor subject to public scrutiny,” the directive stated.
Officials have now been ordered to refrain from participating in, sponsoring, endorsing, attending, or accepting awards from such organisations unless authorised by the Office of the President.
The President stressed that government performance will be judged by results, not ceremonies.
The true measure, he said, is delivery on the 2024 NDC Manifesto, government’s development agenda, and sector-specific targets agreed with supervising authorities.
According to him, assessment will focus on tangible outcomes, service delivery, prudent use of public resources, and policy implementation.
He also announced that the Presidency will soon conduct a comprehensive performance review of Ministers and Chief Executives.
The findings will inform decisions on retention, reassignment, and any future Cabinet or executive reshuffle.
Public officials have been urged to focus on executing their mandates and delivering results for Ghanaians, rather than chasing recognition from questionable external schemes.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Parliament has clarified public commentary on social media regarding a notice on its notice board that read “No Vacancy for National Service Personnel 2026/2027. Kindly go for reposting.”
In a statement, signed by the Director of Media Relations, David Sebastian Damoah, Parliament said the notice has been misconstrued and was not a policy statement, a freeze on national service placements, or a change in its support for the National Service Scheme.
According to Parliament, the notice was a routine administrative message to prospective personnel who reported to the House, informing them that it has received more personnel than it can accommodate for the 2026/2027 service year and that they should seek reposting to other institutions.
It said it remains committed to the National Service Scheme and values the contribution of service personnel to its work, and regrets any confusion or inconvenience the wording may have caused.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghanaian public advocate Hopeson Yaovi Adorye has been elected to the Board of Directors of the World Taxpayers Association (WTA).
The election took place on Sunday, October 5, 2026, during the Association’s conference in Kraków, Poland.
His election marks a significant addition to his international leadership portfolio and provides a platform for Ghanaian and African perspectives to contribute to global discussions on taxpayer rights, responsible taxation, transparency and prudent management of public resources.
Reacting to his election, Mr. Adorye expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the WTA for the confidence reposed in him.
“I am deeply honoured by this confidence and conscious of the responsibility that comes with it. Taxpayers are at the heart of every economy, and they deserve fairness, transparency, accountability and value for the taxes they pay. I look forward to working with colleagues from across the world to strengthen the voice of taxpayers and promote responsible fiscal governance,” he said.
According to him, taxation should not be viewed solely as a mechanism for raising government revenue, but also as an important component of the social contract between citizens and the state.
Mr. Adorye said governments have a responsibility to ensure taxes are collected fairly and public resources are utilised efficiently to deliver quality infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and other essential services.
His election also creates an opportunity to bring African experiences into international conversations on taxation and public expenditure.
Mr. Adorye, who is Executive Director of Taxpayers League Ghana, has previously served as Global Board Chairman of the International Youth Network for UN Security Council Resolution 2250, an NGO associated with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
He is expected to use his new role to champion fiscal accountability, taxpayer education, good governance and stronger citizen participation in public financial management.
