President-elect John Dramani Mahama Wednesday called on the 2024 Joint Presidential Transition Team to work expeditiously and within a modest budget given the prevailing economic circumstances. 

He made the call during the inauguration of the 2024 Joint Presidential Transition Team by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC). 

The inauguration of the Transition Team is in accordance with the provisions of the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (ACT 845). 

It is composed of the President-elect’s Team and the outgoing Government’s Team, with the main task of ensuring a smooth transfer of political power to the incoming administration. 

The Team is co-chaired by Julius Debrah, a former Chief of Staff, representing President-elect Mahama, and Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the Chief of Staff, who is representing President Akufo-Addo. 

Mr Mahama recalled that the Presidential Transition Act was signed into law in 2012 by the late President Professor John Evans Atta Mills. 

The law requires a Joint Transitional Team to be set up in a cooperative spirit with mutual respect and openness to the approach of matters during the transition period.  

He said the purpose was to achieve a smooth and peaceful transfer of government administration from one government to another. 

“We pray that the members of the joint transitional team will work within the confines of this law to fulfil the wishes of the Ghanaian people as expressed in the votes of 7th December 2024,” he said. 

The President-elect urged the Transition Team to be guided by the story behind the Presidential Transition Act to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.  

“We may belong to different political parties but we all belong together and let the spirits of our nationalism and patriotism prevail,” he said. 

He assured President Akufo-Addo that he could count on his respect and cooperation during and after the transition. 

“We must demonstrate to the world that despite the adversity we face Ghana remains the beacon of democracy in Africa,” Mr Mahama said.  

“Now more than ever destiny requires us as countrymen and women to close our ranks and stand in solidarity with each other. We must put our country first…” 

The President-elect encouraged the members of the Team to let the spirit of cooperation that had marked the post-election period continue to guide them even as they went through the transition phase. 

In attendance was Vice President-elect Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.