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Monday, 15 June 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 15 June 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

Big Events Ghana

Events organizer that holds Ghana Minister of the Year Awards annually; faced controversy in June 2026 over ministerial award selections and credibility.

2026-05-152026-06-15

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. June 2026
  2. Joy Online

    The awards, organised by Big Events Ghana, sought to recognise outstanding ministerial performance.

    Awards threaten cabinet teamwork – H Kwasi Prempeh concerned about collective responsibility
  3. Joy Online

    The awards, organised by Big Events Ghana, have drawn criticism from sections of the public who argue that assessing and ranking ministers outside official government structures raises questions about accountability, criteria and the broader implications for governance.

    Chasing glory instead of governance – CDD boss says ministerial awards encourage dangerous competition
  4. Joy Online

    Founder and Executive Chairman of Big Events Ghana, Prince Mackay, has mounted a strong defence of his organisation’s credibility following public criticism surrounding the recent ministerial awards scheme.

    You can’t question our track record – Big Events Ghana responds to ministerial awards controversy
  5. Daily Guide

    Kpessa-Whyte and many of those concerns expressed after the “Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards,” staged by a private firm, Big Events Ghana, which honoured some serving Ministers, CEOs and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) over the weekend.

    Mahama Bars Ministers, CEOs From Private Awards
  6. Joy Online

    His response follows assertions by the Chief Executive Officer of Big Events Ghana, Prince Mackay, who claimed that Prof.

    Kpessa-Whyte denies celebrating ‘Best CEO’ award on social media
  7. Joy Online

    But speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express Business Edition on Monday, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Big Events Ghana, Prince Mackay, defended the decision.

    We judged performance, not public anger – Big Events Ghana’s Prince Mackay on Linda Ocloo Award
  8. Joy Online

    Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express Business Edition on Monday, Founder and Executive Chairman of Big Events Ghana, Prince Mackay, defended the decision and insisted that the award was based on a clearly defined assessment period that preceded the recent flooding crisis.

    Judge her before the floods – Awards organisers respond to Linda Ocloo backlash
  9. Joy Online

    The directive comes on the back of the “Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards,” staged by a private firm, Big Events Ghana, which has honoured serving and former ministers and chief executives across several editions.

    Mahama bans ministers and state CEOs from accepting private awards without presidential clearance
  10. The Chronicle

    The Ghana Minister of the Year Awards is organised annually by Big Events Ghana, led by its Founder and Executive Director, Dr.

    Ato Leads Mahama’s Ministerial Rankings –Big Events Ghana
  11. May 2026
  12. Joy Online

    The 6th Minister of the Year Awards Ghana is powered by Big Events Ghana.

    6th Ghana Minister of the Year Awards slated for June 6
Politics

Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards risk cabinet cohesion

The News

The Executive Director of Ghana's Centre for Democratic Development has warned that the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards could undermine cabinet cohesion and complicate the President's management of ministers, noting that a third party's publicly declared "best minister" could create complications if the President is evaluating that minister's performance against internal benchmarks.

9 June 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 9 June

  1. Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards risk cabinet cohesion

    The Executive Director of Ghana's Centre for Democratic Development has warned that the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards could undermine cabinet cohesion and complicate the President's management of ministers, noting that a third party's publicly declared "best minister" could create complications if the President is evaluating that minister's performance against internal benchmarks.

    9 June 2026 · Joy Online

  2. CDD warns ministerial awards risk undermining cabinet teamwork

    The Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development has warned that individual ministerial performance awards could undermine teamwork in government and complicate the President's ability to manage appointees, noting they may interfere with the President's constitutional authority to assess ministers based on internal benchmarks.

    9 June 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Big Events Ghana defends credibility amid ministerial awards controversy

    Big Events Ghana founder Prince Mackay defended his organisation's reputation following public criticism of a recent ministerial awards scheme, asserting that the company has organised awards for 17 years and built a solid track record in Ghana's events industry.

    9 June 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Mahama bars ministers, CEOs from private awards without approval

    President John Dramani Mahama has directed ministers, CEOs of state institutions, and political appointees to stop participating in, endorsing, sponsoring, or accepting awards from private organisations without prior approval from his Office. The directive cites concerns that many award-giving bodies lack transparent, objective criteria and pose risks of undermining public service integrity and creating false impressions about government performance.

    9 June 2026 · Daily Guide

  5. SIGA boss denies celebrating Best CEO award on social media

    Professor Michael Kpessa-Whyte, Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority, has rejected claims by the CEO of Big Events Ghana that he publicly celebrated being named "Best CEO of the Year," describing the allegation as "a palpable lie" and challenging the awards organiser to provide evidence of the alleged social media post.

    9 June 2026 · Joy Online

  6. Big Events Ghana defends Linda Ocloo award amid flooding criticism

    The founder of Big Events Ghana has defended honouring Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo at the Ghana Ministers Awards, saying the decision was based on measurable performance during a defined assessment period (2025 to May 2026) rather than public sentiment over recent flooding incidents in Accra.

    9 June 2026 · Joy Online

  7. Awards organisers defend Ocloo minister award despite flood backlash

    The founder of Big Events Ghana defended naming Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo as the country's best-performing minister, arguing that the award was based on performance between 2025 and May 2026, before recent flooding incidents in Accra. The Presidency distanced itself from the recognition, stating it was a private organisation's assessment, not official government evaluation.

    9 June 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 8 June

  1. Mahama requires presidential clearance for ministers to accept private awards

    President John Dramani Mahama has directed all Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State Institutions and other political appointees to obtain prior approval from the Office of the President before accepting awards from private organisations. The directive aims to protect public service integrity and address concerns about awards from entities with unclear credentials and assessment standards.

    8 June 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Finance Minister Ato Forson wins Ghana Minister of the Year 2025-2026

    Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Finance Minister, was adjudged Overall Best Minister of the Year 2025–2026 at the 6th Ghana Minister of the Year Awards held in Accra. Other ministers honoured included Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as Best Young Minister and John Abdulai Jinapor as Best Innovation Minister.

    8 June 2026 · The Chronicle

Friday 15 May

  1. Ghana Minister of the Year Awards returns June 6 in Accra

    The 6th Ghana Minister of the Year Awards will be held at La Palm Beach Convention Centre in Accra on June 6, 2026, recognizing Ministers of State for measurable delivery in their portfolios. Six contenders have emerged following public nominations and performance assessments.

    15 May 2026 · Joy Online

Big Events Ghana — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute