Information Minister: Big Payments, Recruitments Have Clearance… Suspicious Ones To Be Flagged

There has been no agreement whatsoever by the Joint Transition Team that all ongoing significant payments by Government, recruitments, and other such activities must be submitted to the Transition Team for consideration on a case-by-case basis, Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, who doubles as Spokesperson for the Government Transition Team has said.

Fatimatu, in an official statement,  clarified that that the agreement reached by the Transition team was that if there is a specific allegation of an illegality concerning a particular payment,  then that particular payment is to be referred to the Transition Team; however, the agreement does not automatically affect all statutory payments  and recruitments.

“Regarding concerns about on-going recruitment and payments, it was noted that the Government’s term expires at the midnight of 6th January, 2025. These recruitment processes and payments have received the relevant statutory approvals and have not been proven to be illegal”, Fatimatu Abubakar noted in an official statement issued on Friday December 13.

The statement explained further: “it was decided that any specific allegation of illegality about any particular payment or recruitment should be brought to the attention of the Transition Team for a decision to be made.

“Kindly disregard any statements purporting to indicate that the committee has taken a decision to the effect that all ongoing payments and recruitment should be referred to the transition team as same does not reflect the records of the meeting,” Fatima Abubakar noted.

Kwakye Ofosu Disagrees

Interestingly, on that same Friday December 13, an official statement from the Mahama Transition Team, signed by its Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, was said the Joint Transition Team had indeed agreed that all significant payments and recruitments should be referred to it for a case-by-case study before approval.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu was categorical in his statement which read in full:

“At the second meeting of the Joint Transition Team, held on Friday, December 13, 2024, it was agreed that all ongoing significant payments, recruitments, and other such activities must be submitted to the Transition Team for consideration on a case-by-case basis.

“This is to bring clarity to the status of these payments and recruitments and offers an amicable structure for satisfactorily addressing the issues involved.

“All public officials are, therefore, strongly encouraged to comply without fail and resist any undue pressures.”

Meeting Minutes

Fatima Abubakar however insists that minutes of the second meeting of the Transition Team,  held on 13th December, 2024 at the Accra International Conference Center, did not capture the information but out by Felix Kwaakye Ofosu and his assertion should therefore be disregarded.

The Information Minister in giving additional insights into what actually transpired at the said Friday December 13 meeting  said the Transition Team decided to form Six (6) additional sub-committees, namely the  Finance and Economy Committee, the  Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the  Legal and Governance Committee, the  Infrastructure Committee, the  Interior/Public Safety(Security) Committee and the  Social Sector Committee.

According to the statement, membership of the various sub-committees comprise of three (3) nominees each from the out-going and in-coming governments, with the Head of Civil Service, Head of Local Government Service and Cabinet Secretary joining any committee when their services are required

It said the Co-Chairs further directed that handing over notes should be delivered to sub-committee chairs to commence work immediately. The initial work is expected to be delivered within one week.

“Additionally, out-going Sector Ministers, Heads of Agencies and Technical Staff will be invited to assist the sub-committees when handing over notes submitted by their respective sectors are being discussed”, the statement added.

Fatima Abubakar, reiterated Government’s commitment to a seamless transitional process as we prepare to pass the baton to the in-coming government on 7th January. 2025..