Akufo-Addo is a Listening President – Council Of State

Nana Otuo Siriboe, the Chairman of Council of State has said the Council found it gratifying that the President listened to its advice and reservations in all matters referred to it.

That, he said, effectively deflated the notion that the Council was a rubber stamp.

The the Chairman of Council of State said this when he presented their annual report to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The report, which covered the Council’s first year of office – February 2017 to February 2018, highlights its work – records of intensive briefings, meetings, interactions, approval of appointments and consultation with the President, ministers and heads of public institutions.

Nana Otuo Siriboe said during the period, its’ Appointments and House Affairs Committees would be available to consider the request for examination of appointments forwarded to the Council by the Presidency.

ABOUT THE COUNCIL OF STATE

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.