Nominations for Council of State election end Friday - Poll generates interest in regions
The nominations of the Regional Representatives to the Council of State which began last Tuesday is expected to end tomorrow (Friday, January 31, 2025).
A statement signed and issued by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, said the election would take place on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, in all regional capitals.
The announcement has generated significant interest across the 16 regions, with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including traditional authorities, expressing their interest in representing their respective regions.
Checks by the Daily Graphic at the Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the EC indicated that so far three persons have submitted their nomination forms as of Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
Aspirants
They are Helbert Nii Aryee Annan, an account officer, Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, a farmer, and Summertime Kwabillna Ampong, an accountant.
The Daily Graphic checks further revealed that one of the aspirants for the Council of State elections in the Greater Accra Region, Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, is also the Chief of Katamanso with the stool name, Tatse Nii Laryea Akwetey. He is also a former Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Kpone-Katamanso.
Nii Aryee Annan is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana.
In the Savannah Region, some traditional authorities have expressed their interest in contesting the Council of State election for the region.
They are Mankpanwura Jakpa Achorde Borenyi I, Paramount Chief of the Mankpan Traditional Area of Gonja, Tolodompewura Abdallah Ahmed, Bingorwura Samuel Saibu Adam and Tingawura Alhaji Abudu Seidu Sampson, who is also the Chairman of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Savannah Region.
Meanwhile, the Tingawura, who is also a former District Chief Executive for Bole-Bamboi from 2009 to 2013, last Tuesday filed his nominations to contest the Council of State election in the region.
Background
The Council of State is a body established by the 1992 Constitution to counsel the President in the performance of his functions.
It consists of a representative from each of the 16 regions, elected by an electoral college comprising two representatives from each district in the region while 11 of the members are appointed by the President.