Professor Michael Kpessa-Whyte, Director-General of Ghana’s State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), has raised significant concerns regarding award ceremonies that require payment from recipients, urging public officials to exercise caution. The issue came to light earlier this month when Prof. Kpessa-Whyte himself received an invitation for a “Best CEO of the Year” award from an organization calling itself the “Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours,” which stipulated substantial financial contributions for attendance and recognition.
The Nature of Recognition in Public Service
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte emphasized that while recognition for public service can be a source of humility and gratitude, it must be grounded in transparent assessment, demonstrable performance, and institutional credibility. He stated that no serious public officer should be indifferent to genuine appreciation.
However, he cautioned against reducing public recognition to a mere transaction where payment precedes celebration. In his specific case, Prof. Kpessa-Whyte noted a lack of clarity regarding the award’s coverage period, assessment criteria, panel composition, performance indicators, and the verification process. This lack of transparency led his office to investigate further.
Financial Conditions for Awards
Upon inquiry, Prof. Kpessa-Whyte’s staff discovered that receiving the supposed honour was contingent upon financial commitment. The organizers presented options including a sponsorship package of GH¢50,000 or purchasing a dinner table for eight at GH¢25,000. This revealed a potential link between financial contributions and the path to public recognition.
Consequently, Prof. Kpessa-Whyte opted not to participate in the event, citing his belief that public recognition should never depend on an individual’s or institution’s ability to pay for sponsorship or a dinner table.
Erosion of Moral Authority
The Director-General highlighted that when payment becomes a condition for visibility, attendance, or the receipt of an honour, the exercise risks losing its moral authority. Such arrangements can appear less like genuine awards and more like a “pay-to-be-recognised” scheme.
He stressed the importance of caution for public appointees, especially at a time when Ghana is focused on resetting the country, rebuilding public trust, and restoring discipline in public administration. Prof. Kpessa-Whyte argued that state resources should not be diverted into ceremonies of personal glorification, nor should public funds be used to finance vanity or manufacture prestige for office holders.
The True Measure of Public Leadership
Awards themselves are not inherently wrong; genuine recognition can foster excellence and inspire discipline. However, the problem arises when awards lack transparency, possess unclear criteria, are organized by unknown entities, or involve invisible assessment processes, particularly when honourees are expected to pay substantial sums.
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte asserted that public appointees serve as trustees of the people’s confidence, not for personal decoration. The true measure of leadership, he stated, lies not in the number of plaques but in the quality of reforms advanced, the discipline instilled in public institutions, the problems solved, and the relief provided to citizens.
Focus on Service Over Self-Promotion
He underscored that Ghana needs leaders focused on delivering essential services, creating jobs, and improving public institutions, rather than those chasing ceremonial recognition. The use of institutional funds for award dinners, while these institutions face resource constraints, was also criticized.
The current national context demands sobriety, discipline, modesty, and a renewed ethic of service. Appointees must understand their roles as opportunities for national contribution, not platforms for self-promotion.
The Real Award: Impact and Delivery
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte proposed that the most fulfilling award is not a plaque but a better-functioning public institution, more efficient citizen services, enhanced opportunities for youth, and more accountable public enterprises. The true award is the confidence of citizens who feel the positive impact of public leadership in their lives.
For those serving in the current administration, the greatest honour is the successful delivery of the national reset agenda, which focuses on restoring integrity, reviving institutions, strengthening accountability, and improving living conditions, rather than personal titles or ceremonial grandeur.
Guidelines for Public Appointees
Prof. Kpessa-Whyte urged all public appointees and heads of institutions to be vigilant about award schemes demanding payment. Before associating with any such program, critical questions must be asked regarding the organizer’s credibility, assessment methodology, nominees, selection panel, evidence examined, award period, and whether payment is a condition for participation or if public funds will be used.
He concluded that public service must be protected from the growing culture of purchased prestige. Ghanaian citizens deserve leaders focused on delivery and reform, not decoration and self-celebration. History will judge leaders by their contributions to making Ghana better, not by the number of awards collected.
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