Subcommittees of Joint Transition Team hold meetings

The various sub-committees set up under the joint transition team continued with their deliberations in Accra yesterday.

Notably among them are the inauguration and the presidency sub-committees.

The spokesperson for the President-elect John Mahama team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, told the Daily Graphic that the inauguration sub-committee, for instance, would have to work fast within the time frame to ensure a seamless swearing-in of the President-elect on January 7, 2025.

He said the presidency sub-committee, which had the responsibility of ensuring that all assets and liabilities at the presidency, the vice-presidency, ministries, departments and agencies were handed over to the incoming administration, was also working assiduously.

Later in the day, Mr Ofosu said, the sub-committee on finance and economy would also be meeting to take stock of the state of the economy.

He added that some other sub-committees met at the weekend.

Mr Ofosu said as and when there was the need for the larger transition team to meet, a notification would be sent out.

He said that the larger transition team was likely to meet later this week at a yet-to-be-announced date.

Deliberations

On deliberations so far, Mr Ofosu said it had been cordial and fruitful; however, he said there were some thorny issues to be determined.

"There are a few thorny issues. We have gone back and forth on some of them, especially the issue to do with last-minute appointments and payments and all that," he added.

Mr Ofosu said that both the incoming and outgoing administration had stated their respective positions on the matter.

"So, at this stage, we will act once we take over power to ensure that no irregularity is foisted on the incoming government," he said.

Mr Ofosu said his team expected to have full information on every sector of the economy, adding, "We will seek clarification from the government and as and when the information becomes necessary to share with the public, why not?" he said.

The spokesperson further said since they were all in public office to serve, "we will engage as and when it is necessary".

Transition teams

The joint transition team, made up of the outgoing and incoming administrations, was inaugurated last Wednesday.

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.

A total of nine sub-committees have been set up under the joint transition team for the smooth transfer of power.

Members of the teams were named last Tuesday in line with the Transition Act, 2012, (Act 845) which enjoins both the incumbent President and President-elect to appoint representatives to the Transition Team within 24 hours after the declaration of the presidential results.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s representatives on the team are the Chief of Staff, the Attorney-General and Ministers responsible for Finance, the Interior, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Local Government and National Security.

It also includes the Heads of the Civil Service and Local Government Service, the Secretary to the Cabinet and the National Security Coordinator.

The President-elect, John Dramani Mahama’s, team is represented by 10 members.

They are former Chief of Staff and Co-Chair, Julius Debrah; Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Dr Callistus Mahama, who is serving as Secretary, Dr Valerie Sawyer, Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Mahama Ayariga, Goosie Tanoh and Dr Edward Omane Boamah.