Ghanaian tycoon Daniel McKorley's name surfaces in controversy over ministers paying for awards

Ghana's government has moved to contain a growing embarrassment over award ceremonies, after allegations emerged that public officials paid to receive recognition from privately organised bodies.

President John Dramani Mahama issued a formal directive on June 8, 2026, banning all ministers of state, chief executive officers of state institutions and other political appointees from accepting awards from private organizations without prior approval from the Office of the President. The directive was signed by Secretary to the President Dr Callistus Mahama and copied to all ministers and CEOs of state-owned enterprises.

The letter stated plainly that the proliferation of such awards has the potential to undermine the integrity of public service, create misconceptions regarding government performance assessment and expose the government to unnecessary public criticism and embarrassment.

Daniel McKorley, the founder and executive chairman of the McDan Group, has been named in connection with the controversy. A petition submitted to Jubilee House called for an investigation into claims that government appointees paid money to secure awards at a recent ceremony. McKorley's name appeared in that context, according to Asaase Radio, which first reported the petition.

The cash-for-awards allegation lands at a difficult moment for McKorley, whose relationship with the Mahama administration has been strained since early 2026. In April, the Ghana Airports Company Limited revoked McDan Aviation's Fixed Base Operator licence at Terminal 1 of Kotoka International Airport, citing over $3.99 million in unpaid fees dating back to 2020. McKorley disputed the claim, and traditional leaders, Zongo youth groups and Ga community organisations all petitioned Mahama to intervene on his behalf.

The airport dispute attracted national attention because of what it represented beyond the specific legal disagreement. A government controlled by one political administration appearing to roll back commercial arrangements made under a different one, with indigenous Ghanaian enterprise caught in the middle.

Mahama's June 8 directive goes further than the McKorley controversy. It reflects a broader concern at the presidency about commercially organised award schemes that sell recognition to public figures. The letter noted that public office is a solemn responsibility and that performance cannot be measured by privately organised ceremonies, self-appointed rating bodies or commercial award schemes whose methodologies and standards are neither established nor subject to public scrutiny.

Member of Parliament for Ketu South Eric Edem Agbana separately called for stricter regulation of awards given to public officials, warning that schemes involving sponsorship payments risk undermining public trust in government institutions. McKorley has not publicly responded to the cash-for-awards allegation.