The Secretariat of the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours has denied allegations that financial contributions, sponsorship, or any other type of payment affect recognition under the scheme, maintaining that selection is solely based on merit and service to national development.
The Secretariat emphasised in a statement released on Monday, June 8, that the honours system is not intended to be a means of cash inducement or outside influence, but rather to recognise leadership, creativity, and effectiveness in public service.
Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte’s fears that recognition under the plan might be interpreted as a transaction in which beneficiaries must pay before being honoured prompted the clarification.
The issues were related to the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours, which took place at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Saturday, June 6, 2026, and honoured a number of institutions and public figures for their services to governance.
The Secretariat claims that the program was created to encourage excellence in public administration by honouring people and organisations whose efforts advance national development, accountability, and innovation.
It clarified that interactions with state organisations, such as the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), are a typical component of stakeholder cooperation and have no bearing on the choice of award winners.
“No individual or institution is required to provide financial support in order to be considered for recognition, selected for an Honour, or receive an award. Recognition decisions under the Honours remain independent of stakeholder engagements associated with the organization of the programme,” the statement continued.
It further stated that the platform’s dedication to nonpartisan acknowledgement of leadership and service in Ghana’s public sector is reflected in the previous awardees, who include prominent public individuals from a variety of institutional and political backgrounds.
A number of public institutions, chief executives, and ministers were honoured for their services to national growth and governance at the 2026 edition.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, was one of them; for his contributions to Ghana’s economic management and reform initiatives, he was voted Overall Best Minister of the Year.
Source: newsthemegh.com