Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana, has called for stricter ethical standards in the recognition of public officials, questioning whether state officials should receive awards from events that solicit sponsorships or financial contributions from institutions under their supervision.
In a social media post, Agbana said while public servants who demonstrate exceptional leadership and deliver tangible results deserve recognition, the process through which such honours are conferred must be subjected to greater scrutiny.
According to him, the ongoing controversy surrounding the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards should not focus solely on the recipients or attendees but rather on the ethical implications of public officials accepting awards from events that receive funding from institutions they oversee.
“Public recognition should never be linked, directly or indirectly, to financial contributions,” he stated, arguing that such arrangements create concerns about fairness, independence, and credibility, even in the absence of wrongdoing.
The lawmaker noted that citizens place trust in government when public officials act with integrity and exercise sound judgment, adding that authorities must address not only actual conflicts of interest but also situations that create the perception of impropriety.
Agbana further referenced allegations made by Michael Kpessah-White, who reportedly claimed that organisers requested payment in connection with an award nomination.
He also revealed that a public sector chief executive privately shared a similar experience with him and subsequently declined to participate in the event after being asked to make financial contributions.
He said such allegations raise serious concerns and warrant careful examination.
The Ketu North MP clarified that the awards were not organised by the government but by a private event management company. He also pointed out that similar events were patronised and sponsored by public officials under the previous administration.
However, Agbana stressed that past participation does not justify the continuation of practices that may undermine accountability and public confidence.
“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 stated.
He further argued that Ghanaians elected the current government on a promise of reform and expect higher standards in governance, transparency, and institutional accountability.
As part of efforts to address the issue, Agbana disclosed that following discussions with Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, he was informed that government is developing a regulatory framework to guide the Corporate Social Responsibility activities of State-Owned Enterprises.
According to him, a committee tasked with the assignment has already begun work. He expressed hope that the framework would establish clear standards to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Agbana concluded by urging public officials to uphold the trust reposed in them by citizens and ensure that excellence is recognised strictly on merit.
“Ghanaians will judge the Reset Agenda not by our rhetoric but by the policies we implement and the standards we uphold,” he said, adding, “May we not become what we criticised.”
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
