The Chief Executive Officer of Big Event Ghana, Mr Prince Mackay, has refuted claims he deems unfounded by Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte.

This follows the Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Prof. Kpessa-Whyte’s, revelation that the organisers of the Ghana Ministers of State Excellence Honours sought him to pay for an award.

Prof. Kpessa-Whyte, who had been selected for a “Best CEO of the Year” award, insisted he was offered sponsorship packages—a GH¢50,000 sponsorship package or the purchase of a table for eight at GH¢25,000.

“I want to repeat, we didn’t write to Professor Whyte in person. We never asked him to sponsor the award. It was SIGA as a body that we wrote to, where he is the CEO,” said Mr Prince Mackay, denying Prof. Kpessa-Whyte’s claims.

The awards scheme recently came under public scrutiny after recognising several ministers and heads of public institutions in the current administration, including Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who was named Overall Best Minister of the Year.