On Tuesday, the 31-member Council elected Mr. Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, a former Speaker of Parliament, as its Chairman.
His election occurred before President John Dramani Mahama officially opened the Council in the Accra seat of government.
Four institutional representatives, eleven presidential candidates, and sixteen elected regional representatives comprise the 31-member council.
Articles 89 to 92 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which declare that “There shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions,” created the Council of State.
“We will support you in the governance structure, in the discharge of our constitutional and statutory responsibilities,” Mr. Adjaho, speaking on behalf of the Council, promised the President, promising that they will work together.
He acknowledged that, as the President correctly noted in his speech, many had questioned the Council of State’s continued significance.
“Some have even called for its abolition, but I want to assure you that this Council will be a Council of a difference”. Mr. Adjaho stated.
Thankfully, he continued, a large number of the Council’s members were notable individuals in their own right who he had encountered during his public life.
But more significantly, he expressed hope for this nation, which aligned with the President’s goal of empowering all people, regardless of their origin.
“Mr President, I wish to report that we have three young men on this Council who are in their 30s, the youngest being 32 years,” the Chairman said.
“So even as people are calling for its abolition, the youth seem to have some confidence in their Council. Mr President, you can count on us, day and night, we shall respond.”
Citing the nation’s debt, the debt of the energy industry, and numerous other difficulties, Mr. Adjaho stated that they were aware that President Mahama had assumed the presidency at a very trying moment.
He stated that as part of their responsibilities, they will provide the President with the guidance he needs to weather the storm.
Mr. Adjaho reaffirmed that they will be guided by consensus-building and teamwork.
“Mr President, for those of us that you have appointed, we are most grateful that you have seen something in us, the 11 men and women that you appointed onto the Council, I want to assure you, we will not fail you,” Mr Adjaho said.
“The institutional representation, in other words, those by virtue of the offices that they have held in the past, are people some of us have worked with in our public life, and I know they are men of repute.”
Mr. Adjaho reaffirmed the Council’s determination to help Ghana and the President achieve their goals.
Source: newsthemegh.com