Editorial
Award schemesshould be on merit,not pay-for-award
THERE is a rising concern about award schemes in Ghana becoming a ‘Pay-for-Award’ or a Vote-to-win mentality instead of awards based on merit. Numerous organisations now hold glamorous ceremonies pledging to honour “excellence,” ranging from business and entertainment to leadership and social influence.
However, behind the glitz, red carpets, and gold-plated awards, a worrying reality is emerging and for many nominees, recognition is no longer earned; it is purchased. This is because honourees now have to pay for their route to excellence.
A reporter from The Spectator interviewed a number of nominees in Tamale and Accra, and they disclosed that the process has become all too familiar. What is so remarkable is that they receive a congratulatory call announcing their nomination, generally portrayed as an acknowledgment of hard work and influence.
Some are asked to pay as much as GH¢2,000 for a table and for the plaque and if the person is not able to afford the award is given to another person who has the ability to pay. If the award is based on merit why do you ask the awardee to pay for it? Many Ghanaians are beginning to question the credibility of these award events.
The invitation of high-profile dignitaries like regional ministers, public officials and celebrities to appear on flyers and at events convinces nominees and the public alike that it is legitimate but in reality it is a façade.
Another issue of concern which has turned recognition into a popularity contest is vote-based competitions where winners are determined not by impact or quality, but by how many votes they can garner often through paid SMS on mobile money platforms.
Instead of people being honoured for their good work they rather have to beg friends, strangers, WhatsApp groups everywhere to vote for them just competing for airtime and mobile money in order to win.
Coupled with that the award events often staged in luxury hotels with celebrity hosts and elaborate decorations have become lucrative business ventures where organisers earn revenue through seat sales, sponsorship deals, photography packages, nomination fees, and promotional slots.
These issues are worrying as the pursuit of recognition has come with a heavy financial burden. According to an awardee she spent more than GH¢23,000 on various awards over three years as cost for seats, plaques, adverts and others. Why must people pay for seats if they are genuinely qualified?
Some beneficiaries have wondered about the genuineness, relevance and credibility of the awards but the issue is while a few argue that such awards help with publicity or branding, many more believe the practice cheapens the meaning of excellence.
The Spectator calls for regulation of some of these awards which are nothing short of scams damaging public trust.
We hope that henceforth awards should reward genuine achievement, not financial contributions for accountability and ethical standards to reign in the award industry.
There should be transparency so that Award Schemes will be on merit, not pay-for-award.
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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will administer the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana from Monday, May 4, 2026, to Monday, May 11, 2026, for both school and private candidates.
For Junior High School (JHS) students, it is a crucial evaluation that covers both core and elective areas, such as English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, French, and Ghanaian Language among others.
A total of 619,985 candidates comprising 304,273 males and 315,712 females have been registered to write this final examination for JHS students.
In order to prevent examination misconduct, which damages the legitimacy of the educational system and skews the results of student assessments, candidates are expected to follow the regulations of the examination by WAEC.
Anyone found engaging in examination misconduct will face harsh penalties under WAEC Act 719.
As a result, the Spectator is advising all candidates to be cautious of the directives and make a commitment to always act morally.
We also implore supervisors and invigilators to refrain from any wrongdoing because invigilators have found themselves in trouble in the past.
It is common to feel anxious at examination but we advise candidates not to panic during this time because if they do, their brains will not be able to recall what they have learned.
Relax and you will be able to recall the majority of the material you have studied, but if for some reason you are unable to remember do not be afraid. Leaving a question unanswered is better than receiving a sanction from WAEC due to examination misconduct.
During this time, we expect parents to help their children by providing a peaceful, distraction-free study space and making sure they eat healthily and get enough sleep.
We wish every BECE candidate all the best for the examination, including good health, mental clarity, and protection.
Dear Editor
I wish to use your esteemed platform to welcome Mr Carlos Queiroz, our new coach for our senior national male football team, the Black Stars.
We have read a lot about him and I think looking at his CV, he represents our biggest ‘catch’ in this business.
When his name came up initially, some of us doubted whether we could land him considering our scarce resources.
A coach with experiences with Real Madrid, Manchester United at club sides and national team romance with South Africa and Iran speaks volumes of what he brings to the table.
However, we must not forget that CVs don’t play football. Football is played on the pitch and it is therefore the reason why the noise about his arrival must end and watch out for what he brings to the table.
Currently, we don’t have players we could call world class. Those that comes near that label like Mohammed Kudus and Mohammed Salisu are injured.
The only player making waves in Europe at the moment is Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City.
Carlos Queiroz is not coming as a magician. He would need players who are committed and very good enough. At this moment, we should be praying and supporting him to get the best out of our players.
Directly, I want to appeal to him to take a serious look at the players in individually and access their qualities before bringing them on board.
Some of the players are very good but have just failed or struggled to perform in the Black Stars jersey. One of his task must be to break that ice.
We need nothing bust the best for the World Cup. As Ghanaians let’s support Queiroz to get the best out of the players available.
Andy Muller,
Accra
