President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sworn into office members of the Council of State.
The swearing in ceremony took place on Monday 27 February, 2017 at the Banquet Hall, State House.
The Council of State made up of 11 persons nominated by the President and 14 elected regional representatives, per article 89 of the 1992 Constitution are supposed to 'counsel the President in the performance of his functions'.
Article 91 also states: (1) The Council of State shall consider and advise the President or any other authority in respect of any appointment which is required by this Constitution or any other law to be made in accordance with the advice of, or in consultation with, the Council of State.
(2) The advice referred to in clause (1) of this article shall be given not later than thirty days after the receipt of the request from the President or other authority.
(3) The Council of State may, 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, Parliament or any other authority established by this Constitution except that the President, Minister of State, Parliament or other authority shall not be required to act in accordance with any recommendation made by the Council of State under this clause.
(4) The Council of State shall perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by this Constitution or any other law not inconsistent with this Constitution.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has charged members of the Council of State to discharge their duties diligently.
“It is important therefore that regardless of whatever your background, you will discharge your duties dispassionately. This means that the council has a great responsibility. It will be easy to fall into the well-known temptation of telling the president what you think he wants to hear...I look forward very much to working with the council that will offer me straight forward advice based on unvarnished truth. I’m looking forward to working with a council that will help all of us deepen our democracy and I’m looking forwarding to working with the council that will help us deliver a prosperous Ghana. Such council should not give advice to a president, the effect of which is to undermine the independence of any of the other arms of government especially the judiciary,”
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