Four file nomination to contest Eastern Region Council of State position

Four persons have filed to contest for the position of the Eastern Regional representative on the Council of State.

The election is scheduled to be held on February 12 across all 16 regions.

The Council of State, per Article 89 of the 1992 Constitution, is to counsel the President in the performance of his functions. The composition of the Council of State includes persons appointed by the President, a former Chief Justice, a former Chief of Defence Staff, a former Inspector General of Police, President of the National House of Chiefs and one representative from each region of Ghana elected in accordance with regulation made by the Electoral Commission under Article 51 of the 1992 Constitution,by an electoral college, comprising two representatives from each of the districts nominated by the District Assemblies.

Nominations

As at the close of nominations on Thursday, February 5, four persons had filed in the Eastern Region. The four are a former member of the Council of State in President Akufo-Addo’s first term and a private businessman, Paa Kofi Ansong; an entrepreneur, Ernest Amemakuse Mawufemor; a mechanical engineer, James Amanor Ossom, and a librarian, Francis Tetteh.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, Asirifi Young, said the venue for the election would be discussed and communicated to the necessary institutions very soon.

Appointment

President Nana Akufo-Addo, pursuant to Article 89(2) of the Constitution, on February 1, released the list of his appointees for the Council of State.

A statement from the Communications Directorate of Jubilee House, signed by the Acting Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, indicated that Juabenhene Nana Otuo Siriboe II, who was the chairman of the Council in President Akufo-Addo’s first term, had been re-appointed.

Other members of the previous Council of State who have also been re-appointed include legal practitioner Sam Okudzeto, Stanley Blankson, and Dr Margaret Amoakohene.

Others include Georgina Kusi, Alberta Cudjoe, Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, Prof Ato Essuman, Alhaji Aminu Amadu, Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI and Alhaji Sule Yiremiah.

102 battle for 16

In a related development, 102 candidates from the 16 regions have filed to contest the regional slots of the Council of State.

Key among the candidates are Mr Enoch Tei Mensah, former NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo Prampram and former Minister of Youth and Sports in the Rawlings’ administration, who will come face to face with Nii Kotei Dzani, the immediate past representative of the Greater Accra Region.

Other known names are Alhassan Andani, former Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank; Mr Ras Mubarak, immediate past NDC MP for Kumbungu, who are vying with four others to represent the Northern Region; Mr Kojo Agyenim Boateng, journalist; the Akrofosohene, Nana Owusu Achiaw Brempong, immediate past member representing the Ashanti Region and Ms Eunice Jacqueline Buah, a businesswoman, who is seeking re-election for the Western regional slot.