Akufo-Addo picks 11 for Council of State

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed 11 persons to serve as members of the Council of State.

His action is in accordance with Article 89 (2)(d) of the Constitution.

The Council would be consulted on several key appointments and decisions to be made by the president.

A former Mayor of Accra, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson and one-time President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Sam Okudzeto, are some of the prominent personalities on the list.

Others, according to a release from the Office of the President signed by Eugen Arhin, Acting Director of Communications, are the Jaubenhene, Nana Otuo Siriboe II; Nana Kofi Obiri Egyir II; Mrs. Alberta Cudjoe; Alhaji Aminu Amadu; Dr. Margaret Amoakohene, former High Commissioner to Canada and Director of the School of Communication Studies, at the University of Ghana, Legon; Alhaji Sahanun Moqtar, a former minister; Mrs. Georgina Kusi, owner of Ageorgia Hotel, Kumasi; Alhaji Sule Yiremiah, a former Deputy NADMO Coordinator and Paa Kofi Ansong, former spokesperson for Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA).

Nana Otuo Siriboe, who was a member of the Council during the erstwhile Kufuor administration, is tipped as the likely chairman of the Council based on his experience.

Aside these 11 appointees, the Council of State must also include a former Chief Justice, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, a former Inspector General of Police and the President of the National House of Chiefs, per Article 89(2)(a)(i) of the Constitution.

In this light, President Akufo-Addo has appointed Lt General J.B. Danquah, former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and Nana Owusu Nsiah, former Inspector General of Police and Ambassador to Israel, to the Council pending parliamentary approval.

The President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, is also an ex-officio member of the Council.

However, there is no living former Chief Justice, thus President Akufo-Addo was unable to propose a name for the approval of parliament.

The composition of the Council of State will be completed with the election of the regional representatives, scheduled to come off tomorrow, Thursday, February 16.

The Council is mandated to counsel the president in the performance of his functions.

It may also, upon request or on its own initiative, consider and make recommendations on any matter being considered or dealt with by the president, a minister of state, or any other authority established by the Constitution.