President John Dramani Mahama on Monday launched a book of code of ethics for ministers and other political appointees, with a call on them to strictly adhere to it, to avoid bribery, corruption and other malpractices, at Peduase Lodge.

The president also officially opened the on-going orientation course for deputy ministers from all sectors of the economy.

He said although various codes of ethics had been drawn up over the years to guide political appointees, the current one was to complement that effort, and fully give the appointees the right atmosphere to perform their duties creditably in their areas of jurisdiction.

Apart from guiding the appointees to perform their responsibilities, the document would also guide all political appointees to eliminate ambiguities that had bedeviled activities of substantive ministers and deputy ministers, at the various ministries and regions.

The booklet would also guide ministers and other political appointees: "to do what is right and do things in the right way."

President Mahama said the event served as the beginning of his periodic meetings, scheduled to review the performance of ministers so that they would re-position themselves towards achieving the vision his administration had set up for the country.

He said Government's decision to sign performance contracts with ministers was apt for them to achieve the government’s vision and development agenda for the next four years.

President Mahama said his administration abhorred unacceptable behaviour and expected all ministers to play their roles responsibly, to avoid misconduct that could derail the development agenda of government.

He said the guidelines would demarcate ethical boundaries that would measure the performance of ministers, and urged them to eschew any activity that could plunge the image of government into disrepute.

President Mahama promised to periodically meet the ministers to appraise their performance.