Akufo-Addo’s Road Closed

The police have closed the road in front of the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s, residence, leading to the De Youngsters International School at Nima, Accra to traffic.

Residents and other commuters who hitherto used that portion of the road would have to use the rear of the house or other roads near the Nima roundabout.

The Nima Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vance Gariba, said the move had become necessary because the area had become a security zone.

ACP Gariba said it was international practice that once a presidential candidate is elected President, steps are taken to protect him.

He said the National Security and State Protocol would ensure that the area was secure.

ACP Gariba said petty traders, and vulcanisers, who operate in front of the President-elect’s house, would also be relocated, adding that they have already been spoken to, of plans to relocate them.

He said the pavement along the President-elect’s house adjacent the Nima police station had also been barricaded.

ACP Gariba appealed to the public, especially commuters, traders and other road users, to bear with the police.

Source: The Ghanaian Times

Correct Me If I Go Wrong – Akufo-Addo To Chiefs

The President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, has told chiefs in the Greater Accra region not to hesitate in correcting him if he goes wrong while governing the country. He also said he will need their advice in order to succeed while occupying the highest office of the land. Akufo-Addo made this known on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy call on the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs.

 “In such an important job as this, I would need the advice of eminent persons like you. You are the traditional rulers of the Ga State. If I do something which is not in order, please do not hesitate to point it out to me. My doors are always open to you. I want all of you to help me so we can do a good job for all Ghanaians,” he added. He also called on the chiefs to rally behind him and guide him. - It will be recalled that, prior to his campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region, Nana Akufo-Addo called on the Greater Accra House of Chiefs to elicit support for his candidature.

“The elections have been conducted and, as you know, I emerged victorious. So, I thought it proper to come here again and thank you for your support and for the words of encouragement you offered me. I am truly grateful,” he said. “I thank the people of the Greater Accra Region for taking the message of the NPP to heart and for voting massively for the NPP. Before the election, we (the NPP) had 14 seats. We now have 21 seats, and I also had 52% of the popular vote in Greater Accra. So as we speak now, the NPP is the majority party in the Greater Accra Region.

I thank you and the people of Greater Accra for this massive show of support.” I’ll fulfill my promises The president-elect also assured to fulfill all the promises he made to Ghanaians prior to his election. “All the things I said I was going to do for the region in my campaign, I will fulfill it. They were not just campaign or platform talk. Amongst them include the construction of a harbour at Jamestown and landing sites at Teshie. We want Ghana to move forward. Kwame Nkrumah referred to us as the Black Star of Africa.

The Black Star has to shine for everybody to make it in our country.” On his part, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the President of the Greater Accra House of Chiefs, thanked Nana Akufo-Addo for the respect and honour shown to the House by his visit. “You called on us before the election, and you have called on us again after your victory. This shows us that you hold us in high esteem and we thank you for that.

Whatever we can do to help your Presidency succeed, we will do it. Ghana must succeed, so we can create a bright future for our children,” he added.

Handing Over Notes For Nana Addo Ready – Gov’t

The government transition team has denied reports that the handing over notes for the incoming President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration are not ready.

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.

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  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

Inauguration of transition team[Photos]

Call your supporters to order – Mahama to NPP

President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated his appeal to leaders of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to call their members to order, following reports of attacks on some citizens and state properties.

The Police earlier said they had received reports nationwide that some NPP supporters “are attacking supporters of NDC in various parts of the country.”

The President on Sunday subsequently directed the security agencies to deploy and arrest any person caught in such acts.

Though he has also commended the NPP’s intervention on the issue, the President further impressed on the party’s leadership to be firmer in its decision.

He believes the development is likely to affect the country’s security if unchecked.

“Across the nation, we have witnessed incidents of innocent people being attacked, vandalization of state property and unruly behavior arising out of these celebrations.

"Supporters of opposing parties have been assaulted and threatened and some government properties have been attacked and destroyed. I must also say add that some of the NPP supporters have also been victims of this excessive jubilation. I had to subsequently direct security agencies to deploy across the country and ensure safety and security of all our citizens.

“I stated in my congratulatory call to President elect Nana Addo that we would have to collaborate in this transition period to ensure the security and safety of our people. I therefore urge the President elect to act firmer in calling their supporters to order and halt immediately the harassment and attacks on innocent citizens. I’m happy to note that a statement to that effect has been issued.”

Stop attacking NDC supporters – Police warn NPP

The Police had earlier cautioned supporters of the NPP to desist from such actions. According to the Police perpetrators of such acts risk arrest and prosecution if they go ahead with such acts of vandalism.

The Police in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Superintendent Cephas Arthur said “it
has come to the attention of the Police that some people are attacking supporters of NDC in various parts of the country.”

“The Police Administration wishes to caution those who are engaging in acts of vandalism and rowdyism to desist, as Police officers who have been deployed to maintain law and order will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who break the laws of the land,” the statement added.

Transition team to be inaugurated today.

Following the election of the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo to the highest office of the land, government together with the NPP will on Sunday outdoor a presidential transition team.

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:

Julius Debrah- Chief of Staff

Marietta Brew Appiah Opong- Attorney General & Minister for Justice

Seth E. Terkper- Minister for Finance

Prosper Bani- Minister for the Interior

Dr. Benjamin Kunbour- Minister for Defence

Hanna S. Tetteh- Minister for Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration

Alhaji Collins Dauda- Minister for Local Government & Rural Development

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

Yaw Osafo Maafo- Representative of the President-elect

Frema Osei Opare- Head of the Staff of Office of the President-elect

Gloria Akuffo- Member responsible for Legal Affairs

Ken Ofori- Atta- Member responsible for Finance

Ambrose Dery- Member responsible for the Interior

Dominic Nitiwul- Member responsible for Defence

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey- Member responsible for Foreign Affairs

Hajia Alima Mahama- Member responsible for Local Government

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:

Head of the Civil Service

Head of the Local Government Service

Secretary to the Cabinet

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.

Ghanaians wanted a new leadership – Rawlings

Former President Jerry John Rawlings has in a statement stated that the election that saw Nana Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was a manifestation of the desire of Ghanaians for a new leadership.

The former President in the statement congratulated the former attorney general and president-elect for winning the presidential election. “You have been elected as President because the electorate believes you have the ability to confront these challenges and lead the country with fearlessness, humility and honesty.

“I commend you for committing to be a leader for all Ghanaians in your acceptance address. The onus is on you to pursue a leadership that unifies the people so members of the losing side have no reason to feel insecure,'' he said.

The Electoral Commission (EC) declared the NPP leader as president elect with 53.85% of the valid votes cast. He defeated the incumbent, John Mahama of the governing NDC who obtained 44.40% of the total valid votes cast.

Read full statement “I write to extend my warm congratulations on the occasion of your electoral victory," he said. “Your victory is a manifestation of the people’s desire for new leadership and comes with enormous responsibilities including a commitment to pursue an anti-corruption drive across-the-board.

“Ghana faces huge challenges, many of which you promised to tackle during your campaign tours. “You have been elected as President because the electorate believes you have the ability to confront these challenges and lead the country with fearlessness, humility and honesty.

“I commend you for committing to be a leader for all Ghanaians in your acceptance address. The onus is on you to pursue a leadership that unifies the people so members of the losing side have no reason to feel insecure.

“I wish you the best of luck as you prepare to assume the mantle of leadership. “God bless you and our homeland Ghana,” the message concluded.