By Bright Ntramah
President-elect John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday morning made a victor’s return to the Jubilee House, visiting the seat of government for a nearly half-an-hour meeting with President Akufo-Addo, committing to a straightforward transition of power.
Sitting in the ceremonial room of the Jubilee House, the former rivals shook hands before Nana Akufo-Addo called Mr Mahama “Mr. President-elect.
Both leaders pledged seamless transition of power.
At exactly 11a.m., the former President, now President elect with his delegation, including Vice president-elect, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, arrived at at the Foyer of the Jubilee House.
The two leaders were escorted to the Ceremonial room of the Jubilee House where they had tête-à-tête. After 10 minutes, the two leaders had a private meeting where issues about the economy, security, and the transition were discussed.
The transition act requires that within 24 hours a joint transition team should be established to begin the process of a smooth and seamless transfer of authority. It is on this basis that President Akufo-Addo invited the President elect to the Jubilee House to meet and kick-start the whole process.
The joint transition team will be formally inaugurated on Wednesday afternoon.
President Akufo-Addo congratulated the President elect, John Mahama, on his remarkable victory and wished him and his administration the very best of luck. He also congratulated Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Ghana’s first female Vice President.
He extended his full support and that of government over the transitional process and afterwards to make sure that his administration takes off in the best of conditions.
“And then secondly, to assure him of my full support and that of my government over the transitional process and afterwards to make sure that his administration takes off in the best of conditions.”
It is in the interest of all of us as Ghanaians that that should happen, and that is the reason why I brought him here. He’s familiar with this place, the President added.
President Akufo-Addo was happy the incoming administration made it to the Jubilee House.
“Come so readily and quickly to visit with me and members of my team to begin this process. All of it is in order to make sure that our nation, Ghana, continues to march forward as a functioning, effective, democratic state, which respects the will of the people, which respects human rights and the rule of law, and where we are all secure in our daily life.
We’ve spoken a little bit about the issues that have occurred, the seeming lawlessness that is taking place over this weekend, and I expressed my happiness at his intervention yesterday in speaking to the country about what was going on and the reinforcing of the authority of the state to make sure that these matters are dealt with.”
President-elect John Mahama described the meeting as cordial. He said the president has given me a brief on the security situation, both internal and external, and also a short brief on issues to do with the economy.
“Mr. President has given me a brief on the security situation both internal and external and also a short brief on issues to do with the economy. Of course the transitional teams will drill down further into these matters, but I am happy that the assurance he is giving us that we are going to work together in the interest of Ghana to ensure a seamless transition and I believe that even after that transition it would be nice for us to continue to keep a channel of communication so that Ghana’s democratic credentials are consolidated and we all work together in the national interest. And so I want to thank him for his time and to assure him that on our side we are very happy to work together, and we will look forward to the successful work of the joint transitional team.”
Other members of the President elect team are Julius Debrah, National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Aid, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, and Alex Segbefia among others.
The Government side had the chief of staff and his deputy, former Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, among others.
