Nana Asiamah, Others File For Council Of State

Nana Asiamah Poku-Afrifa II As the election of the Ashanti Regional representative in the Council of State draws nearer, interested persons who have filed their nominations have intensified their campaigns to get the nod.

Five persons, namely Mr. Appiah Menka, Nana Asiamah Poku-Afrifa II, Reverend George Antwi, Hon Joseph Alexander Tuffuor Sarkodie and Kwame Gyaukyem are competing for the single slot.

All the interested persons are said to be trying their optimum best to win the mandate of the 54-member Electoral College who would be electing the representative on February 10.

According to officials of the Ashanti Regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC), the venue for the impending election was yet to be decided on.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE on Thursday, Nana Asiamah Kofi Afrifa Poku II, Chief of Toase who is a key contender in the hot race, implored the electorate to elect the right person to represent the region in the Council of State.

He urged the Electoral College to do a thorough background checks on all the candidates before making the final decision to endorse someone for the position.

The former Army Captain noted that what the region needed most was somebody who has in-depth knowledge on a wide range of issues, particularly the local governance concept.

Nana Poku-Afrifa boasted that as a retired member of the local assembly who has over 37 years' experience in local governance, he is the most qualified to represent the region in the Council of State.

“Having worked as a local government treasury for several district assemblies in the region dating back to the 1950s, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, and a National Chairman, Local Government Workers Union of TUC,  I've undoubted experience to serve appropriately in the Council of State,” the 71-year-old Chief emphasized.  

He said when given the nod, he would work in unison with his colleagues to offer the very best of advice to the President to ensure that the nation moved forward in the right direction.

Two members each from the 27 district assemblies in the region who form the 54-member Electoral College will converge on a chosen venue on Tuesday to elect the successful candidate for the position.

As a constitutional demand, the President is required to constitute a 24-member Council of State to counsel him on the governance of the country.

According to the spirit and tenet of the 1992 Constitution, the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief of the Defence Staff and the Chief of Justice including 11 appointees of the President and regional representatives from the 10 regions in the country would constitute the Council of State.

From Stella Danso, Kumasi