Godfred Apolala defends presidency directive on private awards for public officials
Apolala says directive promotes discipline and keeps public officials focused on delivering results
Godfred Apolala, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team in the Navrongo Central Constituency, has defended the government’s directive restricting ministers, chief executive officers of state institutions, and other political appointees from participating in, endorsing, sponsoring, attending, or accepting awards from private organisations without prior approval from the Presidency.
According to him, the directive is aimed at strengthening discipline within the public service and ensuring that government appointees remain focused on delivering results for the people.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday, June 10, Apolala said the policy is intended to encourage public officials to prioritise their responsibilities over personal recognition and external accolades.
“The idea is to make sure that appointees focus on their work and deliver on what they have been tasked to do,” he stated.
He explained that performance in public office should be evaluated based on clearly defined targets and measurable outcomes rather than awards conferred by external organisations.
Apolala argued that the government remains committed to implementing programmes and projects designed to improve the living conditions of Ghanaians.
“There are ongoing interventions in infrastructure, agriculture, and social services that demonstrate the government’s commitment to national development,” he said.
While acknowledging the existence of challenges, he maintained that such difficulties should be assessed alongside the progress being made across various sectors of the economy.
“We cannot ignore the progress being made simply because challenges exist. Both must be considered when evaluating the government’s performance,” he noted.
He further contended that the performance of any government cannot be judged solely on economic concerns, stressing the importance of a balanced and comprehensive assessment of development efforts.
“Assessment must be fair and based on the full picture, not just isolated issues,” Apolala concluded.
Mike 105.3FM I Navrongo | Elizabeth Apusaama
