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