President Nana Akufo-Addo has issued a firm directive to all outgoing Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers, and political appointees, instructing them to return all official government vehicles as his administration concludes its second and final term.
The Office of the President, in a statement, emphasized that this directive, first introduced at the end of President Akufo-Addo’s first term in 2020, remains in full force. “No official vehicle shall be acquired by any appointee of the current administration as the term concludes,” the statement stressed.
This decision departs from previous conventions that permitted outgoing appointees to purchase one official saloon vehicle through valuation by the State Transport Company Ltd. President Akufo-Addo reiterated that “this practice will not be applicable under his administration.”
The directive applies to all political appointees, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers, Special Assistants, Special Aides to the President and Vice President, and Chairpersons or Members of Statutory Boards and Corporations under the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463).
The Presidency further instructed that all government vehicles in the possession of these appointees must be returned to the Chief Directors of their respective Ministries by Friday, January 3, 2025.
According to President Akufo-Addo, this measure highlights his administration’s “commitment to accountability and the responsible management of state resources.” The Office of the President urged all appointees to fully comply with the directive to facilitate a smooth and accountable transition.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has assured his full support for President-elect John Mahama as he prepares to assume office. Speaking ahead of a meeting at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, which centered on inaugurating a joint transitional team, President Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of a smooth process that serves the nation’s interests.
“I want to assure him of my full support and that of my government over the transitional process to make sure that this administration takes off in the best of conditions,” he affirmed.
President-elect John Mahama expressed gratitude for the assurance, emphasizing the need for cooperation during and beyond the transition period. “I’m happy at the assurance he has given us that we’re going to work together in the interest of Ghana to ensure a seamless transition, and I believe that even after that transition, it will be necessary 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,” Mahama stated.
The meeting set the framework for a smooth handover of power, underscoring the shared commitment of both leaders to protect Ghana’s democratic gains and foster national unity.
