Joint transition team inaugurated, holds first meeting

The joint transition team yesterday kicked-started work for the seamless transfer of power from the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration to the incoming government led by the President-elect, Mr John Dramani Mahama, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

This follows the inauguration of the team yesterday.

President Akufo-Addo presented his handing over notes to former President Mahama to signal commencement of the transition process. Present to witness the event was the Vice President-elect, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman.

Members of the government's transition team are Akosua Frema Osei-Opare – Chief of Staff (Co-Chairperson); Godfred Yeboah Dame – Attorney-General; Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu – Minister of Presidential Affairs; Dr Mohammed Amin Adam – Minister of Finance; Henry Quartey – Minister of the Interior; Dominic Nitiwul – Minister of Defence; Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah – Minister of Local Government, and Albert Kan Dapaah – Minister of National Security.  

Others are Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh – Head of Civil Service; Dr Nana Ato Arthur – Head of Local Government Service; Mercy Debrah-Karikari – Secretary to the Cabinet, and Edward Asomani – National Security Coordinator.

President Akufo-Addo has also appointed Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, a former Speaker of Parliament, to the Advisory Council. 

The Chairperson of the Advisory Council is the current Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

NDC’s Team

Mr Mahama's transition team members are Julius Debrah - Co-chairperson; Johnson Asiedu Nketia - member; Fifi Fiavi Kwetey - General-Secretary of NDC; Dr Callistus Mahama – member/Secretary to transition team; Dr Valerie Sawyer - member; Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi - member; Dr Cassiel Ato Forson - NDC Leader in Parliament; Mahama Ayariga - Bawku Central MP; Goosie Tanoh - member and Dr Edward Omane Boamah - Director of Elections and IT, NDC.

It has three ex-officio members who are Prosper Bani, a former Chief of Staff; Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong, a former Attorney-General and Nana Ato Arthur, a UN consultant on transitions.

Additionally, the President-elect has nominated Edward Doe Adjaho as a member of the transitional Advisory Council.

The inauguration of the team is grounded in the Presidential Act of 2012, Act 845, which provides the legal framework for an orderly and transparent transition. 

Peaceful transition

President Akufo-Addo said that peaceful transition of power was a hallmark of mature democracies. 

“Fortunately for us in Ghana, the foresight of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic has, with the adoption of the Presidential Transition Act 2012 Act 845, established for us a robust framework for managing transitions, safeguarding the gains of our democratic journey.

“Today, we reaffirm our collective resolve to adhere to the letter and spirit of this Act, and ensure that this transition proceeds seamlessly, transparently, and with dignity,” he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo said Section Two of the Presidential Transition Act, included ensuring a proper and seamless handover of executive authority, ensuring the provision of daily national security briefings to the president-elect, and the due discharge of the financial obligations of the State to Article 71 officeholders.  

“It is obvious that the role of this team is not simply administrative, it is deeply patriotic. You are tasked with ensuring that the incoming administration receives all the resources, briefings, and support it needs to begin its work with the single objective of advancing the interests of citizens,” he said.

The President urged members of the team to approach the task with a spirit of collaboration, transparency and mutual respect. 

Commendation

For his part, Mr Mahama congratulated members of the team, and expressed the hope that “we have a seamless and smooth transition of power from one democratically elected government to another”.

“We pray you work within the confines of the law in fulfilment of the wishes of the Ghanaian people, as expressed in the votes of December 7, 2024.

“We may belong to different political parties, but we all belong together, and let the spirit of our nationalism and patriotism prevail.

“We urge you to work expeditiously and within a broadest budget, given the prevailing economic circumstances,” he said.

Mr Mahama further called on all citizens to demonstrate to the world that despite the adversity they face, the country remains the beacon of democracy in Africa.

Destiny, he said, required that we close our ranks and stand in solidarity with each other, adding “we must put our country first, and the work would be on us, but we expect that you are capable and you are going to put your shoulders to the wheel”.