Parliament denies Akufo-Addo's Council Of State Members 

Parliament of Ghana has rejected some council of state members who have been appointed by President Akufo Addo.

Speaker of the parliament Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has directed that a communication should be sent to the president to remind him of the provisions Article 89(2).

The speaker told the house Article 89 (2) provides that, the Council of State
 89(1) There shall be a Council of State to counsel the 

President in the performance of his functions. (2) The Council of State shall consist of — (a) the following persons appointed by the President in consultation with Parliament(i) one person who has previously held the office of Chief Justice; (ii) one person who has previously held the office of Chief of Defense Staff of the Armed Forces of Ghana; (iii) one person who has previously held.

The speaker, therefore, denied knowledge of any discussion with the president.

What triggered the speaker’s direction.

The speaker made the direction after the minority leader Haruna Iddrisu asked the communications director at the presidency Mr. Eugene Arhin to respect the constitutional provisions before putting certain information into the public domain.

According to the leader of the minority, the house should be consulted first before the information can be put into the public domain.

Below is the communication from the presidency circulating on social media signed by the communications director of the jubilee house.

For Immediate Release 

COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL IF STATE

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, pursuant to Article 89(2) of the Constitution, has appointed the following eleven (11) persons to the Council of State: 

Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Juabenhene Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi 

Mr. Sam Okudzeto 

Mr. Stanley Blankson 

Prof, Ato Essuman 

Alhaji Aminu Amadu 

Dr. Margaret Amoakohene 

Mrs. Georgina Kusi 

Mrs. Alberta Cudjoe 

. Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI. Alhaji Sule Yiremiah 

The President, subject to consultation with Parliament, has also appointed, in accordance with Article 89(2)(a)(i)(ii) and (iii), Georgina Theodora Wood, a former Chief Justice, Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah, a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces, and Nana Qwusu Nsiah, a former Inspector General of Police, to the Council. The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahchoo Yaw Gyebi II, is ex-officio a member of the Council, in furtherance of Article 89(2)(b). 

The composition of the Council will be complete with the election, due to be held on 12% February 2021, of the regional representatives, in accordance with Article 89(2)(c).

 EK Ansah, Parliamentary correspondent