President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sworn-in new Council of State members and urged them to work in the interest of the nation in the discharge of their duties without fear or favour.
He assured members of his preparedness to obey their counsel in the governance of the country.
“We need to enhance the efficiency of the State Administrative Machinery [and] I expect you to be proactive partners in our effort to find solutions that will improve the lives of our people,” he said.
Swearing-in the members in Accra on Monday, February 27, President Akufo-Addo stressed that “I look forward to a vigorous exchange of ideas between [us]. It is my fervent hope that together [with this] Council we can realise the dream of the founders”.
Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Juabenhene, on behalf of his colleagues assured the President that they would ensure they give off their best.
Article 89 of Ghana’s constitution enjoins the Council of State to “counsel the President in the performance of his functions.”
It is also to consider and advise the President or any other authority in respect of any appointment which is required by the constitution.
The elected members for the various Regions are Eunice Jacqueline Buah, Western Region; Kwadwo Agyenim Boateng, Brong Ahafo Region; Yakubu S. Nantogmah, Northern Region; Agona Akrofosohene Nana Owusu Achiaw, Ashanti Region; Richard Babini Kanton IV, Upper West Region; Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani, Greater Accra Region; Robert D. Mosore, Upper East Region; Obrempong Appiah Nuamah II, Central Region; Francis Albert Seth Nyonyo, Volta Region and Nana Somuah Mireku- Nyampong, Eastern Region.
The President’s representatives are former Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson; a former President of the Ghana Bar Association, Sam Okudzeto; Nana Otuo Siriboe II and Nana Kofi Obiri Egyir II.
Others are Mrs. Alberta Cudjoe, Alhaji Aminu Amadu, Dr. Margaret Amoakohene, Alhaji Sahanun Moqtar, Mrs. Georgina Kusi, Alhaji Sule Yiremiah and Mr. Paa Kofi Ansong.
President Akufo-Addo also appointed General J.B. Danquah, a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces, and Nana Owusu Nsiah, a former Inspector General of Police, to the Council pending Parliamentary approval.
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, is also an ex-officio a member of the Council, in line with Article 89(2)(a)(i) of the constitution.
The President swore in 24 out of the 25 Council of State members because the Constitution states that there must be a former Chief Justice on the Council but currently there is no living former Chief Justice.
A former Chief Justice is to be appointed when the current one retires this year.
Meanwhile, Nana Otuo Siriboe was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Seventh Council of State under the Fourth Republic at its maiden meeting.
