The 31-member Council of State has elected former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, as its chairman.
This follows the swearing-in of members of the council by the President, John Dramani Mahama, yesterday evening.
Mr Adjaho, a lawyer and five-term legislator, who represented the people of Ave-Avenor Constituency in the Volta Region, was the fifth Speaker of Parliament. He is the first Speaker to be elected from among members of Ghana's Parliament.
Provisions
While Articles 89 to 92 of the 1992 Constitution sets up the Council of State and names three categories of past officeholders the President must mandatorily choose from, it also allows him to nominate 11 more persons to the council, in addition to elected regional representatives.
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For the former officeholders, the President nominated former Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo; former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, and former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Michael Samson-Oje (retd), in addition to the President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II.
President
President Mahama welcomed the newly sworn-in members of the Council of States, emphasising the significance of the occasion.
"Today marks another significant step in our collective commitment to the democratic ideals of governance and development," he said.
President Mahama acknowledged the council's role as a reservoir of experience, guidance and non-partisan insight for the executive arm of government.
He stated that the council's role was not merely ceremonial, but one of profound responsibility.
"You are expected to offer wise counsel on matters of governance, policy and national developments, drawing from your diverse backgrounds and experience," he said.
President Mahama urged the Council members to provide insightful, actionable and transformative guidance to propel the nation forward, highlighting the complex challenges facing the nation, including economic distress, social cohesion issues, and the need to strengthen democratic institutions.
He urged the Council members to be guided by the principles of integrity, objectivity and national interest.
"Let your deliberations be marked by sincerity, your advice be rooted in wisdom, and your service be inspired by the supreme welfare of the people of Ghana," President Mahama said.
Perception
For his part, Mr Adjaho assured the President that members would work as a team to change past perceptions about the council and its role in national development.
“It is true that many have questioned the relevance of the Council of State, some have even called for its abolition, but I want to assure you that this council will be a council of a difference,” the Chairman of the Council of State said.
The President acknowledged that the Council of State had faced criticism in recent times, with some perceiving its work as unsatisfactory and merely designed to rubber-stamp executive decisions.
However, President Mahama expressed the hope that the new council members would convince doubters of their importance and put to rest any negative perceptions.
Other members
The other nominees are the Chief of Akyem Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Boamah Darko; the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area in the Central Region, Osabarima Kwesi Attah II, and a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Vida Amankwanua Akoto-Bamfo for the Greater Accra Region.
Others are the Paramount Chief of Mankpan Traditional Area in the Savannah Region, Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi I; former MP for Zebilla in the Upper East Region, Cletus Avoka, Volta Region; former Minister of Health, Dr Eunice Brookman-Amissah, for the Central Region; a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould Iddrisu, for the Ashanti Region, and the National President, Canoe Council Women’s Wing & African Confederation of Professional Organisation of Artisanal Fisheries, Cynthia Komley Adjetey, for the Greater Accra Region.
The rest of the President’s nominees are a former Ambassador, Molly Anim Addo of the Greater Accra Region, and the Queenmother of Ayima Traditional Area in the Bono Region, Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II.
Regional representatives
Those elected to represent their regions on the advisory council are Maxwell Boakye for the Western Region; Hakeem Addae for the Central Region; Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey (I) for the Greater Accra Region; Gabriel Adovoe Kwabla Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, Volta Region, and Evelyn Korang for the Eastern Region.
Others are Michael Addo, Western North Region; Okyere Yaw, Ahafo Region; Dr Kusi Boachie Yiadom, Bono Region; Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese V, Bono East Region; Richard Kings Atikpo, Oti Region, and Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni for the Northern Region.
The rest are Abudu Seidu Sampson, Savannah Region; Michael Kwame Mumuni, Upper West Region; Thomas More Ditundini Adaili, Upper East Region; Chief of Kuba, Naa Saaka Abuba, North East Region, and former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, Ashanti Region.
