National Awards Shouldn’t Be Handed To Political Appointees By Their Own Governments – Prof. Adomako Ampofo Sparks Debate

Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo of the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies has raised concerns about the growing trend of awarding national honours to political appointees under the very governments they serve. Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile with Samson Lardy on Saturday, January 4, she called for greater impartiality and transparency in the selection process for national awards.

Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo of the University of Ghana’s Institute of African Studies

“National honours should be about recognizing excellence—not just fulfilling one’s responsibilities,” Prof. Ampofo asserted.

She emphasized that these accolades should promote national unity, celebrate extraordinary achievements, and inspire citizens to strive for greatness, rather than being perceived as partisan gestures.

The professor voiced unease about the significant proportion of political figures included in recent award ceremonies, noting that approximately 25% of recipients were ministers or political appointees. While not entirely opposed to honouring politicians, she stressed that such recognition should not originate from the administration they serve under, as this practice compromises the credibility of the awards.

Citing former President Kufuor’s decision to appoint Ibn Chambas, a member of the opposition NDC, to an ECOWAS executive role, Prof. Ampofo highlighted this as a model of recognizing merit beyond party lines.

“This is the kind of excellence we should celebrate—achievements so remarkable that even a political opponent acknowledges them. The people of Ghana should also have a voice in these decisions,” she remarked.

Prof. Ampofo also drew attention to the global trend of politicizing national awards, advocating for a more inclusive process that allows ordinary citizens to nominate deserving individuals.

“A robust nomination system involving the public would enhance confidence in the legitimacy of the awards and their recipients,” she added.

She questioned the practice of outgoing presidents conferring awards on their vice presidents and close associates, warning that such actions undermine the public's trust in the awards system.

As Ghana transitions to a new administration, Prof. Ampofo urged the incoming NDC government to avoid repeating these errors and to establish a precedent of fairness and impartiality.

“This is a chance for the NDC to lead by example and restore hope and confidence in our national systems. Ghanaians are eager for fairness and real progress,” she concluded.

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