The Spokesperson for President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s Transition Team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has expressed concerns over last-minute recruitments and payment issues ongoing at some government agencies under the outgoing Akufo-Addo-led administration.
Speaking to the media after the first day of work for the transition team, Kwakye Ofosu stated that these actions could have serious financial implications for the incoming administration.
According to him, it was revealed during the transition process that a payment of GH₵240 million was made to an entity that had conducted business with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), raising concerns over the timing and the limited time left for the outgoing government to leave office, graphic.com.gh reports.
“There were a few issues that came up that generated some discussions. Amongst them was the worrying issue of last-minute recruitments and payments in some ministries, departments, and agencies,” he is quoted as saying by graphic.com.gh.
Kwakye Ofosu mentioned that the payment to the entity by the government was not critical and therefore called for the suspension of the transaction to allow for proper scrutiny.
“We have picked up information, and indeed we’ve seen documentation relating to efforts to pay over GH₵240 million to an entity that is supposed to have done some business with the ECG. Now, if it was being paid to IPPs to keep the power on, one perhaps would not have an issue, but it is being paid to an entity whose work in my view is not as critical as IPPs,” he said.
The Member of Parliament-elect for Abura Asebu-Kwamankese Constituency emphasised the importance of the incoming government being involved in decisions regarding finances and the issuance of payments.
“Good governance requires that the incoming government is given the opportunity to make these decisions.”
The transition team also raised concerns about the fiscal implications of last-minute recruitment processes across various ministries, departments, and agencies.
“The timing of the recruitment would have severe fiscal implications on the incoming government,” Kwakye Ofosu warned, urging for a halt to these actions.
“We raised strong objections to these maneuvers and requested that they be put on hold. The government side agreed to this, and we will forcefully insist that this is a dangerous precedent,” Kwakye Ofosu stated.
