The Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has dismissed allegations from members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) transition team that the government has been awarding last-minute contracts ahead of the power handover.
She explained that the recruitment done by the Ministry of Interior and the Ghana Police Service recently had been approved by the government long ago and the enrollment took place accordingly.
The minister stressed that the Akufo-Addo-led government is committed to ensuring a smooth transition of power without sabotaging the next government with any malicious deals.
Speaking to the media on December 13, 2024, Fatimatu urged the general public to disregard the claims and called on the NDC members of the transition team to desist from misinforming the public to tarnish the government’s image.
“I was so surprised when I heard those comments. In fact, I couldn’t believe my eyes and I said I have to go online to check if there is any formal statement until I realized that some interviews were granted that did not reflect the meetings that were held last Wednesday.
“I don’t understand why after winning an election and seeking a smooth transition, we still want to go ahead and then throw dust, misinform and cause panic which will lead to people going out there to cause violence and also to hurt people,” she said when quizzed about the last-minute contract allegations.
Regarding the mass recruitment claims, she responded, “I am saying that there is no recruitment which is new. After we lost the election, the Ghana Police Service, the Ministry of Interior since August 2024 made an announcement of financial clearance that they’ve received since January.
“If you recall, it’s got the processes have been to Parliament, all other places, securing financing. They announced publicly of the intention to recruit.”
She commented after the Spokesperson for President-elect John Dramani Mahama’s Transition Team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, expressed concerns over what he said were last-minute recruitments and payment issues ongoing at some government agencies under the outaoing Akufo-Addo-led administration.
“There is no recruitment which is new after we lost the elections,” says Fatimatu Abubakar, spokesperson for the government’s transition team, denying allegations of last-minute recruitments into ministries and agencies.#GhanaPolls2024#ElectionBureau#CitiVerify pic.twitter.com/nSrAYo20IS
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) December 13, 2024
