Political Sociologist at Valley View University, Prof. Martin Akotey, has called for the abolition of Ghana’s Council of State.
Speaking in an interview on LUV FM on Tuesday, February 11, he argued that the body has failed to make any significant impact to justify its continued existence.
Prof. Akotey questioned the effectiveness of the Council of State, emphasizing that its sole constitutional mandate is to provide advice to the President, a role he believes has had little to no impact on governance.
“In its current form and function, and what we have known of it operating this long, I do not believe the Council of State has done anything significant to warrant its continuous existence,” he stated.
He further pointed out that a fundamental flaw in the Council of State’s setup is that the President is not bound to act on its advice.
“That is where the biggest problem lies. I’m not sure the Presidents we have had so far have been taking this Council very seriously in terms of the advice or counsel they offer,” he remarked.
He further criticized the lack of transparency in the Council’s work, noting that the public has no insight into the advice given to the President or whether it is even considered.
His remarks add to a growing debate about the relevance of the Council of State, with some advocating for constitutional reforms to make the body more impactful.
The Council of State is an advisory body established under Article 89 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. It consists of appointed and elected members who are expected to guide the President on national governance matters.
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