In a country like ours in which we are aware of our challenges, all that is required is focusing on strengthening our institutional processes by making them more robust and transparent. In this regard, investment in digitilisation must be prioritised since the human element to cut corners is inherent in the psyche of some people and therefore cannot be trusted to do the right things out of their own volition.

Enforcement of existing laws and regulations must be reviewed to see what is working, which ones have to be tweaked to be able to address current challenges, and those that have become obsolete and must be discarded.

One issue that needs to be given priority attention is remuneration. A former President is alleged to declare that we pretend to pay workers and they also pretend to work. This indeed sums up the quandary facing government after government. Workers’ salaries are crucial in the fight against corruption. A realistic living wage must be given to workers; otherwise, they will seek avenues to address their personal budget deficit.

On day one, what should engage the attention of government is Energy, making it available and affordable. The industrialisation agenda cannot be successfully executed without power that is readily available, reliable, and affordable. Solar energy must be factored in the quest for affordable and reliable power for industry.

The fuel sector issues must be urgently addressed so that it can impact positively on the transportation sector, which plays a key role in the supply of goods and services. The railway infrastructure plan linking places like Boankra Inland Port to prolong the lifespan of our roads and to fast track distribution of goods from the Capital City to the inland areas of the country should be a top priority item.

A well-structured system linking industry to academia must be quickly established to serve as a catalyst towards the industrialisation drive. Research findings from the universities must be channelled to captains of industry in a timely manner. Effective channels of communication should be established to facilitate shorter product-to-market times.

An effective mechanism for fishing out needy but talented children must be established, as well as a sponsorship package for talented individuals who are needed for certain critical areas of the economy — what I term critical investment in education.

Certain changes must be made in the constitution, particularly the appointment of the heads of certain constitutional bodies or institutions. This is to ensure that the Executive arm of government does not wield too much power to ensure accountability and checks and balances really work.

The Attorney General’s Office must be detached from the Executive arm of government. The Nolle Prosequi provision must also be amended to compel the Attorney General to give an explanation of why he or she is declining to prosecute a particular case or discontinue it. The provision that protects sitting Presidents from prosecution must also be reviewed.

The punishment for some of our laws needs a review. We must review the removal of CJ provision to ensure the independence of the Judiciary.

Above all, there must be a mindset of change, i.e., a paradigm shift from inability to capability. Inferiority complex must give way to a pacesetters mentality, and all will be well. God bless.

NB: KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

BY LAUD KISSI-MENSAH

Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27

New

Across Ghana today, awards schemes have become almost as common as billboards. From business and entertainment to leadership and social impact, dozens of organisations now host glamorous ceremonies promising to honour ‘excellence.’

But behind the glitz, red carpets, and gold-plated plaques, a troubling reality is emerging: for many nominees, recognition is no longer earned; it is purchased.

Paid path to excellence

In interviews across Tamale and Accra, several nominees revealed a pattern that has become all too familiar. They receive a congratulatory call announcing their nomination, often framed as a recognition of hard work and impact.

Days later, the real message follows: they must pay to secure a seat, table, or plaque.

Event organisers often invite high-profile dignitaries’ like regional ministers, public officials, celebrities to appear on their flyers and at their events, creating a façade of legitimacy that convinces nominees and the public alike.

Yet, beneath the polished speeches lies a difficult question: How relevant or credible are these awards?

A young creative professional in Tamale, who asked not to be named, shared her experience.

“They congratulated me for my exceptional work,” she recounted. “But later, they said I had to pay GH¢2,000 for a table and for the plaque. When I said I couldn’t afford it, they told me maybe next year. That’s when I realised it was never about merit.”

The rise of ‘Vote-to-Win’ economy

Beyond direct payments, another trend is sweeping through Ghana’s awards landscape: 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.

This has turned recognition into a popularity contest.

“I had to beg people every day,” said a young social entrepreneur. “Friends, strangers, WhatsApp groups everywhere. I thought I was being honoured for my work, but I was really just competing for airtime and mobile money.”

High cost of chasing validation

For some, the pursuit of recognition has come with a heavy financial burden. One woman revealed she spent more than GH¢23,000 on various awards over three years.

“Each organiser said the award would boost my credibility,” she said. “I paid for seats, plaques, adverts everything. I have the awards, but sometimes I wonder if any of them were truly earned,” she added.

While a few beneficiaries argue that such awards help with publicity or branding, many more believe the practice cheapens the meaning of excellence.

Booming industry built on prestige

Award events often staged in luxury hotels with celebrity hosts and elaborate decorations have become lucrative business ventures. They earn revenue through seat sales, sponsorship deals, photography packages, nomination fees, and promotional slots.

A former event planner admitted that financial targets sometimes influence who gets honoured.

“We had quotas,” he said. “If someone expresses interest, we followed up with payment details. Those who couldn’t pay didn’t make the final list,” he revealed.

Growing calls for regulation

Veteran journalist, Frederick Osei Agyemang, described the current situation plainly: “Some of these awards are nothing short of scams. They damage public trust. Awards should reward genuine achievement, not financial contributions.”

He emphasised that while organisers have operational costs, those expenses must not determine who receives recognition.

As the boundary between genuine honour, commercial interest becomes increasingly blurred, many Ghanaians are beginning to question the credibility of these award events.

One young entrepreneur from Tamale, Sidney Adjetey, recalled being informed that he had won an award but to attend the ceremony, he needed to pay for two or three tables ranging between GH¢5,000 and GH¢10,000.

“I kept wondering whether I was truly qualified,” he said. “Because if I am, why must I pay for a seat?”

He added that he has since stopped attending award ceremonies altogether.

“I’d rather invest in my work than spend money on a trophy.”

Future

With public skepticism rising, the pressure for accountability and ethical standards in the award industry is intensifying. Many believe that unless transparency improves, these schemes risk eroding the very essence of honour.

Until reforms take root, one question hangs heavily in the air:
When did honour stop being earned and start being bought?

By Geoffrey Buta, Tamale

Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27

New