The second meeting of Ghana’s Joint Transition Team, held on December 13, 2024, has sparked differing accounts from the incoming and outgoing administrations regarding the handling of last-minute payments and recruitments by the outgoing government.
In a press release issued by the Mahama Transition Team, spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated that it was agreed during the meeting that all significant ongoing payments, recruitments, and similar activities must be submitted to the Transition Team for case-by-case consideration. This directive, the release emphasized, aims to clarify the status of these activities and establish a cooperative framework for addressing related concerns. Public officials were urged to comply with this decision and resist any undue pressures.
However, the outgoing administration’s Transition Team spokesperson Fatimatu Abubakar, refuted this claim, asserting that no such blanket decision was made. The government side maintained that ongoing recruitment processes and payments have been statutorily approved and are within legal bounds. The statement added that any allegations of illegality should be brought to the attention of the Transition Team for resolution.
The government’s release further outlined key resolutions from the meeting, including the formation of six sub-committees-focused on areas such as finance, energy, infrastructure, and public safety-comprising nominees from both the incoming and outgoing administrations. These committees are tasked with analyzing handing-over notes from respective sectors within a week. Outgoing ministers and agency heads are expected to assist in this process.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition as the outgoing government prepares to hand over power on January 7, 2025.
