The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, has raised concerns over what he describes as a growing trend of State-Owned Enterprises sponsoring award schemes for CEOs, institutions, ministers, and other public officials.[SOEs]
In a statement, Agbana said he had observed that some SOEs were being listed or advertised as sponsors of such events, mirroring a pattern seen under the previous administration.
He called on the Chief of Staff to consider issuing a directive on the matter, arguing that significant funds appeared to be going into sponsoring the awards while the direct benefit to the public remained unclear.
“Some of these institutions could instead be encouraged to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR] resources into more impactful projects such as the construction of schools, AstroTurfs, drilling of boreholes, refurbishment of markets, and other community-based interventions,” he said.
Agbana added that some institutions appeared to be continuing the practice of sponsoring awards primarily to receive plaques and recognition that create an impression of performance.
The MP noted that he did not know the sponsors of the specific awards he was referring to, but questioned the basis for such recognitions. He asked whether award organizers knew the key performance indicators of each minister and what criteria were used for categories such as “Best Minister.”
He concluded by urging a review of how public institutions deploy CSR funds to ensure alignment with the social contract between government and citizens.
