6th Ministers of State Awards saga: 'It is unfair to suggest all awardees bought honours' — Prof. Gyampo

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Professor Ransford Gyampo, has described as unfair suggestions that all awardees at the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards paid for their recognitions.

The awards, held on Saturday, June 6, saw Prof Gyampo emerge as Best-performing CEO in the State Companies category.

The event has, however, come under public scrutiny following allegations by the Chief Executive Officer of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Professor Michael Kpessa-Whyte, that organisers demanded between GH¢25,000 and GH¢50,000 from award recipients.

The controversy prompted the Presidency to issue a directive barring government appointees from participating in or accepting awards from unauthorised schemes.

Speaking on TV3's KeyPoints programme on Saturday, June 13, the academic rejected attempts to claim all awardees paid money for the honors, citing the recognition of Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as an example.

Dr. Ato Forson won the Overall Best-performing Minister category.

According to Prof Gyampo, "It is so condescending and unfair for anybody to insinuate that, oh, then he[Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson] also went to pay money for that. I know his work and what he stands for. I think it is known to many Ghanaians, and so I'm not sure he would do that."

Prof Gyampo further noted that public institutions should not necessarily reject recognition when independent bodies choose to acknowledge their work and performance.

He added that the Presidency's latest directive would serve as a guide on how public officials engage with award schemes going forward.