Concerns have been raised by the Spokesperson for President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s Transition Team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, over a last-minute staff recruitments and financial transactions happening at some government institutions under the outgoing Akufo-Addo administration.

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Addressing the press after the Transition Team’s first session, Kwakye Ofosu pointed out that these activities could pose significant financial challenges for the new government.He revealed that during the transition discussions, it came to light that GH₵240 million had been paid to a company that had done business with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

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The timing of the payment, so close to the outgoing administration's departure, has sparked serious concerns, according to a report by graphic.com.gh.“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.

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Kwakye Ofosu pointed out that the government’s payment to the entity was unnecessary and urged for the transaction to be halted for thorough review.“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.

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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 stressed the need for the incoming government to have a say in financial decisions and payment approvals.

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“Good governance requires that the incoming government is given the opportunity to make these decisions."The transition team also expressed worries about the financial impact of last-minute hiring within multiple 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.

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“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.

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