President John Dramani Mahama has issued a directive prohibiting Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of state institutions, and political appointees from accepting awards from private organizations without explicit prior authorization from the Presidency. This decision stems from concerns within the government regarding the credibility, transparency, and questionable methodologies of many private award schemes that confer titles like "best-performing" or "most outstanding" on public officials. The directive, communicated by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, aims to safeguard the integrity of public service, prevent misconceptions about performance assessments, and avoid potential public criticism. Instead, performance will be evaluated based on measurable outcomes, policy objectives, and delivery of targets aligned with the government's development agenda, with a comprehensive review to inform future decisions on retention and reshuffles.