Former Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, has expressed concerns over what he perceives as the ineffectiveness of the Council of State.
He likened the current state of the Council to an “anorexic institution without power” and stressed that, despite its authority to advise all public institutions in Ghana, its current operations give the impression of powerlessness.
Drawing from his experience at the EC, Dr. Afari-Gyan emphasised the importance of the Council adopting a more transparent approach to demonstrate its impact.
“We will all agree that the Council of State has an imposing name, but the way it has so far gone about its work has made it look like an anorexic institution without power, yet apart from the president, the Council has power to advise every public institution in Ghana,” Dr. Afari-Gyan stated.
He recommended that the Council should regularly publish reports outlining the advice it has provided to different institutions, enabling the public to evaluate its effectiveness.
Dr. Afari-Gyan also underscored the significance of clarifying the distinction between the president’s appointments made in consultation with the Council and those made based on the Council’s advice.
“In the Council’s relationship with the president, there is one thing in particular that requires clarification. The president appoints some people in consultation with the Council and some on the advice of the Council. What is the difference?
“Some lawyers say there is no difference at all and that the president can do as he pleases in both instances. But others say that unlike consultation and the case of advice, the president cannot appoint unless he is so advised,” Dr. Afari-Gyan explained.