Public criticism over the decision to name Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo as Ghana’s best-performing minister has intensified following recent flooding incidents in parts of Accra. The controversy deepened after the Presidency clarified that the award was organised by a private entity and did not represent an official government assessment of ministerial performance.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express Business Edition on Monday, Founder and Executive Chairman of Big Events Ghana, Prince Mackay, defended the decision, insisting that the award was based on a clearly defined assessment period that ended before the recent flooding crisis.
According to him, many critics have failed to consider the timeline used for the evaluation.
“Let me narrow it down to Linda Ocloo, whom all of you are interested in knowing about,” he said.
Mr Mackay explained that the awards assessed the performance of public officials between 2025 and May 2026, stressing that events occurring after the evaluation period were not considered.
“We stated categorically clear that the year under review was 2025 to May of 2026, so we look at the work that they have done within the space and not now or in June, when the rains are flooded, that we have this crisis that we are all complaining about, the fact that she has not done anything to deserve the award,” he stated.
He argued that public reaction to the award has largely been shaped by the recent floods, making it difficult for many people to separate current events from the period under review.
“The timelines that we looked at for this award were within the period of January 2025 and May 2026,” he added.
Defending the minister’s record, Mr Mackay pointed to what he described as her consistent engagement with issues affecting the capital, particularly efforts to remove structures built on waterways and Ramsar sites.
“If you look at our honourable minister, Greater Accra Regional Minister, from day one, she has been engaging, making sure that she will light up Accra, making sure that those who have built on Ramsar sites should pull them down,” he said.
He further praised Ms Ocloo for enforcing regulations without fear or favour, even when influential individuals were affected.
“These have stopped influential people who had built on such sites. But she was tough enough as a woman; she was so tough to ensure that she did what she had to do,” he noted.
Mr Mackay maintained that the recent flooding had significantly influenced public perception of the award and suggested that reactions may have been different under other circumstances.
“Had it not been for the rains that just came, I’m not sure that the story will be as it is. We are seeing it right now,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing debate over the credibility of the awards and whether recognition of public officials should reflect evolving events that shape public opinion. Despite the criticism, the organisers insist that the award was determined strictly by the announced assessment criteria and performance period, which concluded before the floods became a major national issue.
