Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, has questioned the relevance of the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards, urging State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to redirect scarce resources into more pressing national needs rather than sponsoring what he describes as unnecessary displays of prestige.
In a Facebook post cited by AudityNews, the lawmaker called on the Chief of Staff to rein in managers of SOEs, arguing that their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budgets would be better spent on community-impact projects.
“Some of these institutions could instead be encouraged to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) resources into more impactful projects such as the construction of schools, AstroTurf pitches, drilling of boreholes, refurbishment of markets, and other community-based interventions,” Agbana wrote.
He further argued that the growing trend of award schemes for public officials risks replicating practices for which Ghanaians previously criticised the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.
According to him, if the trend continues, it would amount to repeating what citizens rejected at the polls.
His comments come in the wake of the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards, held on June 7, 2026, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra. The event has since sparked controversy, with some critics alleging it lacked merit and that some awardees may have paid for recognition.
The ceremony honoured several government officials for their contributions to public service, including Regional Ministers and sector appointees. Among the recipients was Linda Ocloo, named Best Performing Regional Minister for 2026. Others honoured included Cassiel Ato Forson, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and Dorcas Affo-Toffey, among others.
Agbana, however, questioned the credibility of such schemes:
“I have observed a worrying trend where many groups are organising award schemes for CEOs, institutions, Ministers, and other public officials… Significant amounts of funds appear to be going into sponsoring such events, yet the direct benefit to the social contract we signed with the Ghanaian people remains unclear,” he wrote.
He added that some SOEs appear to be continuing a pattern of sponsoring awards primarily for recognition rather than measurable public impact.
“What is Best Ministers Awards…? Do they know the KPIs of each Minister?” he questioned.
Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards Controversy and SOE Spending Debate
Meanwhile, Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, has revealed that he declined a “Best CEO of the Year” award after discovering that participation required a financial contribution.
In an opinion piece published in the Daily Graphic on June 7, 2026, he said he was initially informed of his selection by an organisation known as the “Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours” and invited to a ceremony at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
However, he said several key details about the award process were not provided, including selection criteria, assessment methodology, and the composition of the selection panel.
“I did not know which year the award covered. I did not know the criteria used for the assessment… I did not know the composition of the assessment panel,” he wrote.
He further stated that his office later discovered attendance at the event was tied to payment.
“The options communicated were either a sponsorship package of GH¢50,000 or the purchase of a dinner table of eight at GH¢25,000,” he added.
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte said this raised concerns about the credibility of the scheme, stressing that public recognition should be based on merit, transparency, and verifiable performance rather than financial contribution.
He urged public institutions to scrutinise award schemes before associating with them, adding that public service should ultimately be judged by impact rather than ceremonial honours.
“History will not remember us for the number of awards we collected, but for whether we used the opportunity of office to make Ghana better,” he concluded.
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