Mahama names transition team for inaugural meeting on December 11

John Dramani Mahama, President-elect of the Republic of Ghana, has, under the provisions of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (ACT 845), appointed a 10-member transition team to meet with their counterparts from the outgoing government.

This is contained in a press release dated December 10 and signed by Sammy Gyamfi, Communication Director of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“The team will work closely with representatives of the outgoing government to ensure a smooth transfer of political power to the incoming administration,” the press release indicated.

It added that “The Transition Team is composed of experienced individuals drawn from various sectors, including
finance, governance, and public administration.”

According to the press release, the appointed members of the Joint Transition Team are as follows:
1. Hon. Julius Debrah – Co-Chairperson
2. Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketia – Member
3. Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey – Member
4. Dr. Callistus Mahama, Member/Secretary to the Transition Team
5. Dr. Valerie Sawyer – Member
6. Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi – Member
7. Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson – Member
8. Hon. Mahama Ayariga – Member
9. Hon. Goosie Tanoh – Member
10. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah – Member

It is recalled that during his victory speech on December 9, President-elect Mahama revealed that he had agreed with President Akufo-Addo for the joint transition team to be inaugurated on Wednesday, December 11.

Excerpts of Act 2012 (ACT 845) can be found below:

The Transition Team

1 . (1) Within twenty-four hours after the declaration of the results of the presidential election following Article 63 of the Constitution,
(a) the incumbent President shall appoint

(i) the head of the presidential staff appointed under the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463),

(ii) the Attorney-General, and

(iii) the Ministers responsible for Presidential Affairs, Finance, the Interior, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Local Government and National Security, and

(b) The person elected as President shall appoint an equal number of persons as appointed under paragraph (a) to constitute a Transition Team that shall include the Head of the Civil Service, the Head of the Local Government Service, the Secretary to the Cabinet, and the National Security Coordinator.

 

(2) The incumbent President and the person elected as President shall be the co-chairpersons of the team, except that

(a) the incumbent President may delegate, to any of the persons specified in paragraph (a) of sub-section (1), any of the functions of the incumbent President as a co-chairperson of the Team, and

(b) The person elected as President may delegate, to any of the persons appointed under paragraph (b) of sub-section (1), any of the functions of the person elected as President as a co-chairperson of the team.

(3) Where the incumbent president is re-elected for a second term, the president shall designate members of the transition team.

Functions of the Team

2. The functions of the Team are

(a) to make comprehensive practical arrangements to regulate, under this Act, the transfer of political power following a presidential election and a general election;

(b) to ensure the provision of daily national security briefings for the person elected as President during the period before the assumption of office by the person elected as President;

(c) to ensure that the salaries, allowances, facilities, privileges and retiring benefits or awards as determined (i) by the President under clause (1) of Article 71 and (ii) by Parliament under clause (2) of Article 71 and which are due to the holders of the offices specified in article 71 of the Constitution are paid or accorded to those persons without undue delay; and

(d) to undertake any other function which will enable the team to achieve the object of this Act.