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Don't tell me what I want to hear; Akufo-Addo charges Council of State members

By MyJoyOnline
Politics Don't tell me what I want to hear; Akufo-Addo charges Council of State members
FEB 27, 2017 LISTEN

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has entreated members of the newly sworn-in Council of State to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

He advised them against lapsing into the temptation of telling him what he wants to hear because he is the president of the country.

Speaking at the ceremony to swear in 24 out of the 25 Council of State members Monday, the President told them to seek the interest of the nation in the execution of their mandate.

“We need to enhance the efficiency of the state administrative machinery [and] I expect you to be proactive partners in our effort to find solutions that will improve the lives of our people,” he told.

Ghana’s constitution in Article 89 creates the Council of State and enjoins it to “counsel the President in the performance of his functions.”

It is also to consider and advise the President or any other authority in respect of any appointment which is required by the constitution.

However, the Council has been criticised by sections of Ghanaians for rubber stamping actions and policies of previous Presidents considered inimical to the country.

President Akufo-Addo who had campaigned on strengthening Ghana’s institutions assured the members of his preparedness to obey their counsel in the governance of the country.

“I look forward to a vigorous exchange of ideas between [us]. It is my fervent hope that together [with this] council we can realise the dream of the founders,” he said.

The Council is also mandated by the Constitution to advise the President on the suitability or otherwise of the creation of new regions.

Having promised to create four new regions in the country, the President told the Council members that they would exercise that function during his tenure to fulfil his 2016 campaign promise.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Juabenhene Nana Otuo Siriboe II assured the President that they would guide his actions to ensure that the best outcomes.

"While the policy must come from the executive it will require the support of the nation to be successful and we will see to it as our duty to facilitate consensus building," he promised.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]

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