President John Dramani Mahama yesterday in accordance with Articles 89 to 92 of the 1992 Constitution inaugurated a 31-Member Council of State.
The new Council of State is headed by Mr Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, a former Speaker of Parliament.
The Council of State in Ghana is a body of prominent citizens, similar to the Council of Elders in the traditional political system, which advises the President on national issues.
The 31-member Council of State is made of five institutional representatives nominated by the President, 10 other nominees of the President; and 16 elected Regional Representatives from each of the 16 Regions of Ghana.
The institutional nominees of the President are Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, a former Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Council of State.
The rest are Justice Sophia Akuffo, a former Chief Justice, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Al Hassan, a former Inspector General of Police, Air Marshal Michael Samson (rtd), a former Chief of Defence Staff and Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, President of the National House of Chiefs.
Others are Daasebre Boamah Darko, Chief of Akyem Kukuratumi, Osabarima Kwesi Attah II, Paramount Chief Oguaa Traditional Area, Justice Vida Amankwanua Akoto-Bamfo, a retired Supreme Court Judge, Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi I, Paramount Chief of Mankpan Traditional Area in the Savannah Region, Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, a former Member of Parliament (MP) Zebilla.
The rest are Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah, a former Minister of Health, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Madam Cynthia Komley Adjetey from Greater Accra, Mrs Molly Anim Addo, a former Ambassador, and Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II, Queen Mother of Ayima Traditional Area.
The 16 Regional representatives elected last week make up the rest of the council.
In his address, President Mahama said the day marked another significant step in Ghanaians’ collective commitment to the democratic ideals of governance and development. He said the nation faces complex challenges, including economic distress, social cohesion issues and the need to strengthen Ghanaians’ democratic institutions.
President Mahama said in addressing these issues, the Council’s voices must be heard not in mere rhetoric, but in insightful, actionable and transformative guidance that would propel the nation forward.
The President drew attention to the heightened expectations of all who served in public office; adding that Ghanaians had indicated their revulsion for poor governance and have come to expect nothing short of quality administration of their affairs.
The President said he holds out hope that their tenure as Council of State members would convince those who might doubt their functional necessity about their importance and put to rest any such perceptions.
Mr Edward Korbla Doe Adjaho, the Chairman of the Council of State, on behalf of the Council, assured the President that they would work as a team to discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities”.
