Mahama swears in Council of State members

President John Mahama has sworn in members of the Council of State at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The ceremony took place in the evening of February 18.

According to a list of the members sighted by 3news, the representatives of North East and Ashanti regions are not named.

This is apparently due to the re-run of the election in the two regions on February 17. They are Saaka Abuba- North East Region and Yaw Owusu Obimpeh- Ashanti Region.

What is the role of the Council of State?

According to Article 89(1) of the 1992 Constitution, the Council of State is “to counsel the President in the performance of his functions.”

Who are the members of the Council of State?

(a) The following persons appointed by the President in consultation with Parliament—

1. One person who has previously held the office of Chief Justice;
2. One person who has previously held the office of Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Ghana;

• One person who has previously held the office of Inspector General of Police;

(b) The President of the National House of Chiefs;

(c) One representative from each region of Ghana elected, in accordance with regulations made by the Electoral Commission under article 51 of this Constitution, by an electoral college comprising representatives from each of the districts in the region nominated by the District Assemblies in the region; and

(d) Eleven other members appointed by the President.

Council of State elections: All you need to know