President John Mahama will hand over power to President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on January 7, 2017, and the Transition team is set to hold a press conference later today [Tuesday], where it will provide details on the protocol for the inauguration.

Speaking to Citi News, the spokesperson for the incoming government on the Transition team, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, assured that all questions pertaining to the transition will be addressed during the press conference.

“We are done with about 80 percent of everything we need to do. We will brief the entire nation and we will be able to provide final details to every question that everybody may have and also provide channels through which, on a regular basis people can get information.”

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah also indicated that the inaugural committee of the Transition team was putting final touches to preparations for the day of the inauguration.

“We are going to brief the entire country through the media step by step on dignitaries who are coming, the itinerary for the day, how to get to the venue, what to look out for and how to satisfy the public interest in what is going to happen,” he added.

The Transition team has been in place for the past four weeks, and it has consisted of sub-committees that have been ironing out the planning of the inauguration ceremony, handing over the machinery of the Civil Service among other mandates.

By the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845), the transition team is to make comprehensive arrangements to regulate the transfer of political power.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The President-elect’s team said the gesture formed part of measures to save what they call an ailing economy from further tumbling.

The working committees and the nine members from the side of the president-elect are reported to have declined sitting allowances, lunch and other beverages, according to their spokesperson, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

Ms. Tetteh, however said so far, no sitting allowances have been paid to any member of the Transition team adding that, since the handing over notes were made available, no meeting of the full membership of the transition team has been held.

In a Facebook post, Ms. Tetteh indicated that “since the handing over notes were made available by the Government side of the Transition team, no meeting of the full membership of the transition team has been held. Sub-committees have been at work holding meetings, and the incoming administration side of the transition team has been working from the Accra International Conference Centre.”

She added that “no sitting allowances have been paid to any member of the transition team (both for the current and incoming administration). From the beginning of the Transition process provision for snacks & lunch were made by the Office of the President and were available only for members of the transition team working from the Accra International Conference Centre.”

“If the incoming administration has taken the position that they do not want to have such provision made any longer that is entirely their prerogative. We will continue to work for a smooth transition of political power from one administration to the next,” Ms Tetteh added.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The party, which will assume office on January 7 2016, said the move is part of measures to save what they call an ailing economy from further tumbling.

Spokesperson of the NPP’s transition team, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who made this known also assured Ghanaians of the NPP’s commitment to salvage the economy.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SDGPc6PvppuQhii1TRxIUhZ93Z2E0VBp”]“Over the Christmas period, many of these sub-working committees have also been in this building having meetings. The working committees and the nine members from the side of the president-elect have also declined sitting allowances, lunch and other beverages as a sign of commitment to the austere times in which we are, and same has been communicated to the co-chair and the team on the other side,” he added.

He explained that they have also briefed President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo on the state of the nation.

“We have currently provided a number of informal briefs to the office of the President-elect. He has requested for a formal interim report before his inauguration so that before he speaks to the country at least he has an interim report of what he is inheriting as the new President of the Republic of Ghana,” Oppong Nkrumah added.

Transition team agrees on ‘last minute contracts’

Both sides of the transition team earlier reached a compromise regarding the signing of new contracts and other decisions with major financial implications by the President John Mahama-led administration in his last days.

According to the NPP’s transition team, the outgoing administration will henceforth take all such decisions in consultation with the incoming administration.

Already the President has made some appointments to some state institutions and also increased allowances for national service personnel.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Jessica Aryee/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Although details of the report have not been disclosed yet, spokesperson for the team, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told the media, it covered issues on national security and the economy.

“The interim report that we have for the president-elect essentially cover the basic bits of information we have received currently and most importantly some national security briefings between himself and his representative on the team responsible for national security, Mr.Albert Kan Dapaah. But the detailed interim report is what you just saw us meeting about which will be submitted to him before the inauguration day,” he added.

More hand over notes presented
Government’s side of the transition team few weeks ago presented all but one of the hand over notes to the incoming administration as required by the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845).

Yaw Osafo Marfo, acknowledged receipt of the notes at a press briefing, with the exception of notes on the office of government machinery.

By the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act, the transition team was to make comprehensive arrangements to regulate the transfer of political power following a Presidential election.

The law provides for the establishment of three specific committees; the inauguration sub-committee, the government machinery sub-committee and the presidency sub-committee and any other committees the transition team considers relevant for the performance of its functions.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The President-elect’s team also said it will duly continue to engage the out-going administration to ensure a smooth transition process.

[contextly_sidebar id=”GSln1Fb8lgidR9czQ2JuPpsYatsk0pcL]”As of today [Tuesday], government, per the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845), had presented to the incoming NPP administration all the handover notes, with the exception of the office of government machinery.”

The Spokesperson for the NPP side of the transition team, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, told the media after his team received the bulk of the documents on Monday that the documents were currently under a process of review.

He also said the public could expect a briefing during President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo’s first state of the nation address when he assumes office.

“The first eight we have received are going through a process of review by the sub committees. As we go through the first eight and the other 31 we have received today [Monday]. If there are any challenges, the first line of action is to engage our friends from the other side and get clarity on what the issues are so that we can have a smooth transition.”

“When the President-elect is giving his State of the Nation Address and is addressing the nation, he will tell us the details of what his team found in this and how it impacts his four-year mandate and the roadmap to deliver on the promises that he has made to us,” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah indicated.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He takes over from Mustapha Hamid, who is also the spokesperson of president-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The development was announced on Monday at a meeting of the transition team.of the outgoing National Democratic Congress government and the incoming NPP.

Oppong Nkrumah ditched broadcasting to run on the ticket of the NPP prior to the December 7 polls.

He however polled 17,141 votes during the general elections and is expected to be in the next Parliament which will start work on January 6 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3QE53glmPxDsWQ4taJMpyzo7nGUNrVqH”]Both sides reached a compromise regarding assertions by the NPP over the signing of new contracts and other deals by the President John Mahama-led administration in its last days.

According to Akufo-Addo’s transition team, the outgoing administration will hence take all such decisions in consultation with the incoming administration.

The representative of Akufo-Addo, on the Transition team, Yaw Osafo Marfo, had earlier asked for clarity on alleged fresh recruitment into the public sector, and the award of fresh contracts days after the NDC government lost the elections.

On these concerns, government reminded that it remained the lawfully elected government of the Republic of Ghana and had the authority to exercise all the functions of government until the hand-over on January 7, 2017.

More hand over notes presented

Government’s side of the transition team has also presented all but one of the hand over notes to the incoming administration as required by the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845).

Yaw Osafo Marfo, acknowledged receipt of the notes at a press briefing, with the exception of notes on the office of government machinery.

By the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act, the transition team is to make comprehensive arrangements to regulate the transfer of political power following a Presidential election.

The law provides for the establishment of three specific committees; the inauguration sub-committee, the government machinery sub-committee and the presidency sub-committee and any other committees the transition team considers relevant for the performance of its functions.

The last meeting of the transition team on Wednesday, December 14 was to settle on the sub-committees to be established and the composition of each committee so that the various committees could begin the process of planning the inauguration ceremony, handing over the machinery of the Civil Service among other mandates.

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By: Sixtus Dong Ullo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to a statement from the government transition team, the spokesperson from Nana Akufo-Addo’s team is on record saying the work of the transition team will start when the incoming administration receives copies of the handing over notes, which are yet been made available to them because they are not ready.

[contextly_sidebar id=”aDr1LcPYvD9KbVcldvTgGVygbju2LixI”]But the government transition team insists that the handing over notes for every ministry are ready and that the process of the transition will begin tomorrow [Wednesday] and the transition team’s second meeting.

“We wish to state that the handing over notes from each Ministry that are to be given to the transition team for the incoming administration are ready, and indeed were prepared before the elections were held on the 7th of December.”

“The second meeting of the transition team after the formal inauguration on Sunday the 11th of December is scheduled to take place on Wednesday the 14th of December at 10.00 am and we look forward to commencing the process of transition in earnest,” the statement guaranteed.

The meeting tomorrow is expected to settle on the committees to be established and the composition of each committee so that the various committees can begin the process of planning the inauguration ceremony, handing over the machinery of the Civil Service including the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and ensuring the orderly transfer of the official assets and liabilities to the in-coming administration.

As a further assurance, the government transition team has also said that the handing over process will be completed before Nana Akufo-Addo is sworn in as president on January 7.

“We envisage that the process of transition will be completed before the formal handing over to the incoming administration on the 7th of January 2017, however, if there are any matters that still need to be addressed the members of the Government’s transition team will be available for further discussions.”

Find below the full statement

PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE GOVERNMENT TRANSITION TEAM –

GOVERNMENT’S READINESS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION FROM ONE ADMINISTRATION TO THE NEXT.

Our attention has been drawn to a media report quoting the spokesperson of the President Elect’s transition team – Mr. Mustapha Hamid where he is reported to have said on Onua FM that the work of the transition team will start when the incoming administration receives copies of the handing over notes, which have not yet been made available to them because they are not ready.

We wish to state that the handing over notes from each Ministry that are to be given to the transition team for the incoming administration are ready, and indeed were prepared before the elections were held on the 7th of December. The second meeting of the transition team after the formal inauguration on Sunday the 11th of December is scheduled to take place on Wednesday the 14th of December at 10.00 am and we look forward to commencing the process of transition in earnest.

By the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845) the transition team is to make comprehensive practical arrangements to regulate the transfer of political power following a Presidential election, and to do this by forming various sub-committees that will be responsible for different aspects of the process of the transfer of power. The law provides for the establishment of three specific committees – the inauguration sub-committee, the government machinery sub-committee and the presidency sub-committee and any other committees the transition team considers relevant for the performance of its functions. We envisage that tomorrow’s meeting will agree on the committees to be established and the composition of each committee so that the various committees can begin their work and get on with the process of planning the inauguration ceremony, handing over the machinery of the Civil Service including the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and ensuring the orderly transfer of the official assets and liabilities to the in-coming administration.

We envisage that the process of transition will be completed before the formal handing over to the incoming administration on the 7th of January 2017, however if there are any matters that still need to be addressed the members of the Government’s transition team will be available for further discussions.

Hanna S. Tetteh

Minister for Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration

Spokesperson for the Governments Transition Team

Issued In Accra on Tuesday 13th December, 2016

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Under the recently amended Presidential Transition Act, the Administrator General’s role is critical in the safeguarding of state assets as well as overseeing the transfer of handing over notes among other key responsibilities in the transition process.

But the office currently lacks essential staff and equipment to undertake its duties.

[contextly_sidebar id=”aV9hIDXygq7oBrskGGVNgcW9HcGrLEq0″]Mr. David Yaro on Eyewitness News on Monday complained that his office is greatly handicapped and works without a car and resorts to the use of commercial motorbikes popularly known as ‘okada’ to undertake its activities.

Speaking to Citi News, Mustapha Hamid, spokesperson for the NPP’s transition team lamented that the assertion by the Administrator General might be true because they are yet to receive the handing over notes from the current National Democratic Congress government.

“If he had he is not adequately resourced to be able to give us an accurate account of what is going on so we know what we are going to inherit, that is worrying. For example, initially we were told that he had a possession of the handing over notes of government, now are being told to wait till tomorrow before we get access to the handing over notes.”

Mustapha Hamid further called on government to resource the office to enable it discharge its duties professionally.

“As it is the transition process has not really started yet, because we haven’t been able to sit down face to face with the government to begin anything because there are no handing over notes which all boils down to the fact that the Administrator General is not properly empowered to ensure that things moves on smoothly. So that is worrying, and I’m sure maybe now that he has put out his concern the government side will be able to resource him adequately,” Mustapha Hamid added.

‘Mahama inaugurates transitional team’

President John Mahama on Sunday inaugurated the government transition team comprising some members of the NDC and NPP.

The 16-member team is expected to account for government resources, agree on the deadlines for the vacation of official residences by government officers and payment of benefits.

The team is jointly chaired by President John Mahama and President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The team was inaugurated at a short ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), today, Sunday.

This follows the Electoral Commission’s declaration of the New Patriotic Party’s Nana Akufo-Addo as president-elect after a keenly contested general election on Wednesday, December 7.

Akufo-Addo beat incumbent, President John Mahama 53% of the total valid votes cast while John Mahama polled 44%.

President Mahama on Saturday announced the 16-member team comprising seven members of the National Democratic Congress government and nine from the NPP.

A statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah said the team would also include the Head of the Civil Service, Head of the Local Government Service, Secretary to the Cabinet and the National Security Coordinator in accordance with the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845).

The team is expected to commence with expediency ahead of the of the official swearing-in of the President-elect, Nana Akufo Addo as President of the Republic on January 7, 2017.

Among the things the team is to consider are accounting for government resources, agreement on the deadline for the vacation of official residences by government officers and payment of benefits.

Members of the team area:

1. Julius Debrah- Chief of Staff
2. Marietta Brew Appiah Opong- Attorney General & Minister for Justice
3. Seth E. Terkper- Minister for Finance
4. Prosper Bani- Minister for the Interior
5. Dr. Benjamin Kunbour- Minister for Defence
6. Hanna S. Tetteh- Minister for Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration
7. Alhaji Collins Dauda- Minister for Local Government & Rural Development

Representing the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo are:

1. Yaw Osafo Maafo- Representative of the President-elect
2. Frema Osei Opare- Head of the Staff of Office of the President-elect
3. Gloria Akuffo- Member responsible for Legal Affairs
4. Ken Ofori- Atta- Member responsible for Finance
5. Ambrose Dery- Member responsible for the Interior
6. Dominic Nitiwul- Member responsible for Defence
7. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey- Member responsible for Foreign Affairs
8. Hajia Alima Mahama- Member responsible for Local Government
9. Albert Kan Dapaah- Member responsible for National Security

In accordance with the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845), the following are statutory members of the Transition Team:

1. Head of the Civil Service
2. Head of the Local Government Service
3. Secretary to the Cabinet
4. National Security Coordinator

 ‘Mahama assures of smooth transition of government’

President John Mahama had earlier assured of ensuring the peaceful transfer of power to the President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo.

In his concession speech after the declaration of Akufo-Addo as President-elect, he said, “I will like to assure the people of Ghana of my commitment to the sustenance of our country’s democracy and we will work to ensure a smooth transition of our incoming administration. I remain committed to the unity and stability of our great nation.”

‘Parliament passes Presidential transition bill’

Ghana’s parliament in 2012 passed the Presidential transition bill. In October 2016, it accepted amendments which among other things, stipulates that the outgoing President and his Vice vacate official bungalows one month before swearing-in of the new President on January 7.

The Bill, also grants the Office Administrator General, legal powers to forcefully evict an outgoing President and his or her Vice when they exceed the grace period.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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A statement signed by Minister of Communications Dr. Edward Omane Boamah said the team which includes seven members from government and nine others from the NPP will have both Mahama and Akufo-Addo as co-chairs.

Akufo-Addo, defeated incumbent President Mahama with 53.85% of the total votes cast.

President Mahama however trailed behind with 44.40% thus truncating his second term bid.

Below is the full statement:

Further to the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845), President John Dramani Mahama has appointed the following as members of the Transition Team:

1. Julius Debrah- Chief of Staff
2. Marietta Brew Appiah Opong- Attorney General & Minister for Justice
3. Seth E. Terkper- Minister for Finance
4. Prosper Bani- Minister for the Interior
5. Dr. Benjamin Kunbour- Minister for Defence
6. Hanna S. Tetteh- Minister for Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration
7. Alhaji Collins Dauda- Minister for Local Government & Rural Development

Representing the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo are:

1. Yaw Osafo Maafo- Representative of the President-elect
2. Frema Osei Opare- Head of the Staff of Office of the President-elect
3. Gloria Akuffo- Member responsible for Legal Affairs
4. Ken Ofori- Atta- Member responsible for Finance
5. Ambrose Dery- Member responsible for the Interior
6. Dominic Nitiwul- Member responsible for Defence
7. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey- Member responsible for Foreign Affairs
8. Hajia Alima Mahama- Member responsible for Local Government
9. Albert Kan Dapaah- Member responsible for National Security

In accordance with the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act 2012 (Act 845), the following are statutory members of the Transition Team:

1. Head of the Civil Service
2. Head of the Local Government Service
3. Secretary to the Cabinet
4. National Security Coordinator

The Transition Team, which will be co-chaired by President John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President-elect, will be inaugurated on Sunday December 11, 2016 at 5pm.

Signed:

Edward K. Omane Boamah (Dr.)

Minister for Communications

Accra.

December 10, 2016.

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