Political analyst Dr. Bernard Tutu-Boahen has urged the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate claims that some ministers who were honoured at the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards allegedly paid money to receive the awards.
According to him, only a proper investigation can establish the truth regarding whether awardees paid money to be selected as the best-performing officials in various ministries.
The awards ceremony was held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, where government officials were honoured for what organisers described as excellence in public service delivery and leadership.
At the event, Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo received the Best Regional Minister Award, while Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah was named Best Male Performing Minister.
Deputy Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Toffey, was adjudged Best Deputy Minister, while Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey received the Best Female Minister Award.
The ceremony brought together government officials, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to celebrate leadership and public service performance.
However, following the event, some appointees allegedly claimed that organisers contacted them to pay large sums of money in order to be selected for awards, claims they reportedly declined.
The allegations have since generated public controversy, with some critics questioning the timing of the ceremony amid reports of flooding and affected communities losing property.
Days after the event, President John Dramani Mahama, through his Secretary, Dr. Callistus Mahama, issued a directive instructing ministers of state, chief executive officers of state institutions, and other political appointees to refrain from participating in or accepting awards from private organisations without prior authorisation from the Office of the President.
According to the Presidency, many of these organisations are largely unknown, have unclear credentials, and lack transparent or verifiable criteria for assessing public officials.
Reacting to the issue on Adom TV’s The Big Agenda, Dr. Tutu-Boahen said the President’s directive suggests he may have taken notice of concerns he did not approve of.
He argued that if the President suspects wrongdoing in the awards process, the matter should be referred to the CID and EOCO for investigation.
Dr. Tutu-Boahen further stated that a full investigation and publication of findings would help clear public doubts and address speculation surrounding the awards.
He added that it would have been preferable if the President had handled the matter discreetly rather than issuing a public directive.
