Chief of Staff in the Kufuor Administration has called for a peaceful transition devoid of acrimonies to avoid the regrettable incidents of car seizures from officials of the previous government. The former Chief of Staff made the appeal at a brief ceremony at the Castle at the official handing-over of government assets to the Transition Team in Accra. According to Mr. Mpiani, “it is proper that the incoming administration is shown what is there and if they have any question it is proper they ask the question.

If there are any answers we have, it is proper that we give them the right answers.” He said some of the assets such as movable ones, could easily be handed over but with the fixed ones, the old team would have to show the new one where they could be found.

Mr. Mpiani described as regrettable situations where some members of his government had their vehicles seized at the offices of Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA).

“It’s also my prayer that at the end of it all we will live as one people, one nation, the essence of which is the development of the country, the peace of its citizens, safety of its citizens. I believe all of us here believe in this.

“And I plead again that let’s do this in a very civil, orderly, brotherly and sisterly way and when we do that, we’re all the victors at the end of it all,” he urged. He asked for special blessing for the incoming team and prayed for a successful handing-over arrangement.

For his part, Mr. Don Arthur, Chairman of the Executive Assets Transfer Committee thanked Mr. Mpiani and noted that “politics is not meant to divide a people. It’s meant to unite a people. Politics is not meant to destroy but to develop a nation.”

He assured the old team and Ghanaians that the government of Prof. Mills was committed to uniting the people and “all that it takes to unite the country is understanding and cordial relationship which need to be developed.” Mr. Arthur therefore called on the old team and Ghanaians to help the new team to develop the country for all.

He noted that this was the second time a handing-over ceremony was taking place in the annals of the country, adding that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under former President Rawlings handed over to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) under former President Kufuor and now it was the turn of the NPP to hand over again to the NDC.

“This is even more significant because the first time was a shock. The transfer was done among three people, a historical personality in the name of Ato Dadzie and the now famous Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey,” Mr. Arthur indicated. He added that “today it looks as if we’ve all come to realize that handing-over issue should not be the concern of only a few people but all.”

Mr. Arthur thanked the old team for handing-over and appealed to them to avail themselves to the team should they encounter any difficulties for amicable solution. He also thanked the Castle workers for their hard work and dedication, urging them to support the incoming President and his team as they did to the old team.

Present at the function were Kan Dapaah, former Defence Minister; Frank Agyekum, former Deputy Minister for Information and National Orientation; Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, Chief of Staff in the Office of President Mills; Cdr. Steve Obimpeh, a member of the new team and a host of other personalities.

The old team later conducted the new team around the Castle and the Golden Jubilee House, which would eventually become the seat of government.