Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo of the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies has criticized the practice of awarding national honours to political appointees under the tenure of the governments they serve.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile with Samson Lardy on Saturday, January 4, she emphasized the need for national awards to remain impartial and focused on excellence.

“National awards should recognize excellence, not just doing a good job,” Prof. Ampofo stated. “These awards are meant to promote national values, encourage unity, and inspire others to strive for greatness. They should not be seen as partisan or self-serving.”

She expressed concern over the high number of political figures included in the recent awards ceremony, pointing out that about 25% of the recipients were ministers or political appointees. While she did not completely oppose awarding political appointees, she argued that such honours should not come from the administration under which they served.

Prof. Ampofo highlighted an example from former President Kufuor’s tenure, where he appointed Ibn Chambers, a member of the opposition NDC, for an ECOWAS executive position. “This is the kind of recognition we want to see, excellence so remarkable that even a government under which you didn’t serve acknowledges it. The people of Ghana should also have a say in such nominations,” she said.

She also criticized the increasing politicization of national awards even globally. “If we had a robust system allowing ordinary citizens to participate in the nomination process, people would feel more confident in the legitimacy of the recipients,” she suggested.

Specifically, Prof. Ampofo questioned the appropriateness of an outgoing president awarding the vice president and other close government officials, stating that such practices undermine the credibility of the awards.

She urged the incoming NDC government to set a better example. “As we enter a new year, this is an opportunity for the NDC to move forward and avoid repeating these mistakes. Ghanaians want to see fairness, hope, and improvement,” she concluded.