Oh Wow! This Woman Is John Mahama’s Best Regional Minister

Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has been officially named the best regional minister in Ghana under the administration of President John Mahama.

She received the Best Regional Minister Award at the 6th Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Awards, held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. The award is organised by a private entity and aims to celebrate excellence in public service delivery while encouraging higher standards in public office.

Organisers of the event said the award recognised Ocloo’s leadership and her efforts in advancing development initiatives within the Greater Accra Region. The ceremony was graced by the Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.

Other notable winners from the same event included Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister for Finance, who was named Best Performing Minister; Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, as Best Performing Male Minister; Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, Eastern Regional Minister, as Best Performing Female Minister; and Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Deputy Minister for Transport, as Best Deputy Minister.

While the award has drawn attention to Ocloo’s performance, it has also sparked significant public discussion. Some commentators have questioned the timing and basis of the honours, citing ongoing challenges in the Greater Accra Region, including persistent flooding.

Sharp criticism

The awards ceremony has attracted strong condemnation from a prominent governance expert. Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, registered his displeasure with the decision to hold an awards ceremony for ministers of the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

Reacting to news of the ceremony, Professor Prempeh described it as “nonsense of the highest order.”

His criticism was echoed by many citizens, including some activists of the governing NDC, who have criticised ministers for showing up to receive awards at a time when Accra is grappling with severe flooding. The timing of the glitzy event at the Labadi Beach Hotel, critics argue, appeared insensitive to residents battling floodwaters and its aftermath across the capital.

As of press time, Minister Linda Ocloo had not publicly responded to the criticism regarding the award’s timing. The organisers of the Ministers of State Excellence Awards have also not issued a statement addressing the backlash.