The Council of State in Ghana is a small body of prominent citizens, analogous to the Council of Elders in the traditional political system, which advises the President on national issues.
The Council of State was established by Articles 89 to 92 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana: "There shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions."[1]
The Council of State should include a former Chief Justice of Ghana, a former Chief of the Defence Staff and a former Inspector General of Police and the President of the National House of Chiefs. Each region of Ghana also has an elected representative. The President of Ghana also appoints eleven members. Members stay in office until the term of office of the president ends.[2]
The current membership was sworn in by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 23 February 2021 at the Jubilee House.[3] The vacant position reserved for former Chief Justice of Ghana was filled following the appointment of Georgina Theodora Wood following her retirement.[4]
The council is required to meet four times a year. It can also meet if requested by the President of Ghana, the Parliament of Ghana or by at least five sitting members of the council. There should be more than half the members of the Council at a meeting to form a quorum. Decisions of the council are valid if voted for by the majority of members present at the meeting. The Council regulates its own procedures subject to the provisions of the Ghana Constitution.[5]
Elected members | |||||
| width=200 | Name | width=150 | Term | width=500 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaw Basoa[6] | Feb 2021–present | Ahafo Region. First person to represent the Region. | |||
| Nana Owusu Achiaw Brempong[7] [8] | Feb 2017–present | Ashanti Region | |||
| Kwadwo Agyenim Boateng | Feb 2017–present | Bono Region. He represented Brong Ahafo Region from 2017 until the region got divided into 3 regions. | |||
| Vacant | Bono East region. A court injunction has delayed this seat being occupied. | ||||
| Emmanuel Baidoo (Odeefuo Afankwa III)[9] | Feb 2021–present | Central Region | |||
| Paa Kofi Ansong[10] | Feb 2021–present | Eastern Region | |||
| E. T. Mensah[11] | Feb 2021–present | Greater Accra Region | |||
| Azumah Namoro Sanda | Feb 2021–present | North East Region. First person to represent the Region. | |||
| Mahamoud Tahiru (Zung Lana)[12] | Feb 2021–present | Northern Region | |||
| Richard Kings Atikpo | Feb 2021–present | Oti Region. First person to represent the Region. | |||
| Adam Zakariah[13] | Feb 2021–present | Savannah Region. First person to represent the Region. | |||
| Tong-Raan Kugbilsong Nalebegtang[14] | Feb 2021–present | Upper East Region | |||
| Daniel Anlieu-Mwine Bagah | Feb 2021–present | Upper West Region | |||
| Francis Albert Seth Nyonyo | Feb 2017–present | Volta Region | |||
| Vacant | Western Region. There was a tie for this position in the election. | ||||
| Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II | Feb 2021–present | Western North Region. First person to represent the Region. | |||
Appointed members | |||||
| Nana Otuo Siriboe II[15] | Feb 2017–present (also 2005 - 2009) | Paramount Chief of Asante-Juaben Traditional Area Former Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Elected chairman by the council in 2017 and re-elected in 2021[16] [17] | |||
| Feb 2017–present | former President of the Ghana Bar Association | ||||
| Feb 2017–present | former Mayor of Accra | ||||
| Mrs. Alberta Cudjoe | Feb 2017–present | ||||
| Alhaji Aminu Amadu | Feb 2017–present | ||||
| Feb 2017–present | School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon; | ||||
| Mrs. Georgina Kusi | Feb 2017–present | ||||
| Alhaji Sule Yiremiah | Feb 2017–present | ||||
| Justice Ofei Akrofi[18] [19] | Feb 2021–present | Anglican Archbishop | |||
| Ato Essuman | Feb 2021–present | ||||
| Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI | Feb 2017–present | Tumu Kuoro and elected member for Upper West Region from 2017, appointed by Nana Akufo-Addo from Feb 2021 | |||
Ex-Officio Members | |||||
| Feb 2017–present | former Chief of the Defence Staff | ||||
| Feb 2017–present | former Inspector General of Police | ||||
| Georgina Theodora Wood | June 2017 – present | former Chief Justice of Ghana |
Elected members | |||||||
| width=200 | Region | width=200 | Name | width=150 | Term | width=300 | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nana Asiama Poku Afrifa[20] [21] | 2009 - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| Benjamin Asonaba Dapaah | 2001 - Jan 2009 | Transport Owner | |||||
| Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| J. H. Owusu-Acheampong | 2009 - Jan 2013 | former Regional Minister, Provisional National Defence Council | |||||
| Michael Kwadwo Adusah | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police | |||||
| Obrempong Appiah Nuamah II | Feb 2017–Feb 2021 | ||||||
| Percival Alfred Kuranchie | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| Ato Essuman | 2005 - Jan 2013 | Management consultant | |||||
| Nana Somuah Mireku- Nyampong | Feb 2017 – Jan 2021 | ||||||
| Nana Kodua Kesse II | Feb 2013 – Jan 2017 | ||||||
| Osabarima Owusu Gyamadu III | 2009 – Jan 2013 | ||||||
| Fredrick Guggisberg Yaw Ofori-Atta | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Industrial Relations Practitioner | |||||
| Nii Kotei Dzani | Feb 2017 – Feb 2021 | ||||||
| Emmanuel Adzei-Anang | 2009 - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| John Sackah Addo | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Former Governor of the Bank of Ghana | |||||
| Bo-Na Professor Yakubu S. Nantogma | Feb 2017 - Feb 2021 | ||||||
| Vo-Naa Bawah Mohammed Baba | 2009 - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| Naa Sebiyam Nabila | 2005 - Jan 2009 | ||||||
| The Rt. Rev. Dr Jacob Kofi Ayeebo | Feb 2009[22] - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| Francis Asianab Afoko | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Businessman | |||||
| Richard Babini Kanton IV | Feb 2017–Jan 2021 | ||||||
| Guli-Naa Seidu Bhat Braimah | Feb 2009 - Jan 2017 | Former District Chief Executive for Wa Municipal (Longest Serving DCE). (Chief of Guli Traditional area) | |||||
| Naa Seidu Braimah | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| Kuoro Kuri-Buktie Limann IV | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Paramount Chief of Gwollu Traditional Area | |||||
| Togbui Binah Lawluvi VI[23] | 2013 - Jan 2017 | Paramount Chief of Ziope Traditional area Lawyer and lecturer at Ho Polytechnic President of Volta Regional Chapter of Association of Rural Banks | |||||
| Bernard Kwasi Glover | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| Togbe Kpangbatriku III | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Paramount Chief of Dodome Traditional Area | |||||
| Eunice Jacqueline Buah [24] | Feb 2017–Jan 2021 | Owner of Labianca Company | |||||
| George Kofi Dadzie | 2009 - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| Paul Kwabena Damoah | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Agriculturist | |||||
Appointed members | |||||||
| width=200 | Appointing President | width=200 | Name | width=150 | Term | width=300 | Comments |
| Paa Kofi Ansong | Feb 2017 - Feb 2021 | ||||||
| Feb 2017 - Feb 2021 | Sanaa Lodge | ||||||
| Alhaji Sahanun Moqtar | Feb 2017 – Feb 2021 | ||||||
| Naa Thomas Tia Sulemana | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Zosali-Na | |||||
| Nana Ogyeabuor Akompi Finam II | 2001 - Jan 2004 | ||||||
| Naa Abayifa Karbo II | 2001-2004 | ||||||
| Kofi Amanor Ansah | 2001-2004 | ||||||
| Nana Prah Agyensaim | 2001-2004 | ||||||
| Nana Otuo Siribour II | 2005- Jan 2009 | Paramount Chief of Asante-Juaben Traditional Area and former lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology | |||||
| Fred Ofori-Atta Asante | 2001-2004 | ||||||
| Albert Adu-Boahen | 2001-2004 | Retired University of Ghana lecturer | |||||
| 2001-2004 | |||||||
| Alhaji Alhassan Bin-Salih | 2001 - Jan 2009 | ||||||
| Clement Kubindiwor Tedam[25] | 2001 - Jan 2009 | former Minister of Local Government, (SMC) and Educationist | |||||
| 2001 - Jan 2009 | Former Commissioner of Police (CID) | ||||||
| Kwesi Armah | 2001 - Jan 2009 | Former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and a Barrister-at-Law | |||||
| Samuel Asante-Antwi | 2005 - Jan 2009 | Immediate-Past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana | |||||
| 2001 - Jan 2009 | Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana | ||||||
| 2001 - 2004 | former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana | ||||||
| Ama Busia | 2001 - Jan 2009 | a former Principal Domestic Bursar, University of Ghana | |||||
| Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie | 2005- Jan 2009 | Past President of the Ghana Journalists Association and a member of the Media Commission | |||||
| Cecilia Bannerman | 2005- Jan 2009 | Former Minister of Mines | |||||
| Mrs Victoria Addy | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| Hajia Hajara Musah Ali | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| 2009 - Jan 2013 | former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development | ||||||
| 2009 - Jan 2013 | Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana | ||||||
| 2009 - Jan 2013 | former member of PNDC and Defence Minister | ||||||
| 2009 - Jan 2013 | former Secretary for Chieftaincy Affairs | ||||||
| Otumfuor Baidoo Bonso XV | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| Nii Amoo Darku | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| Asoma Abu Banda | 2009 - Jan 2013 | ||||||
| 2009 - Jan 2013 | Chairman, former Permanent Representative to the United Nations and retired University lecturer | ||||||
| John Henry Martey Newman | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | Former Chairman of the Council[26] former Chief of Staff under the late President John Mills | |||||
| Nana Osei Asibey[27] [28] | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | Dabosohene, Ashanti Region | |||||
| Cecilia Johnson[29] | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Brong-Ahafo Region | |||||
| Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | former Central Regional Minister & former Central Region representative | ||||||
| Abraham Kweku Edusei | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | Eastern Region | |||||
| Rabiatu Deinyo Ammah[30] | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | Greater Accra Region | |||||
| Rasheed Sulemana Mahama | Feb 2013 - Jan 2017 | Tuluwewura, Northern Region | |||||
| David Kanga | 2013 - Jan 2017 | Upper East Region | |||||
| Edward Nminyuor Gyader | 2013- Jan 2017 | Upper West Region | |||||
| Patrick Enyonam Agboba (Togbe Sri III) | 2013 - Jan 2017 | Volta Region | |||||
| Okogyeman Kweku Gyamerah III | February 2013 - Jan 2017 | Sefwi Chiranohene, Western Region | |||||
| Abraham Kwaku Adusei | |||||||
Ex-Officio members | |||||||
| width=200 | Position | width=200 | Name | width=150 | Term | width=300 | Comments |
| March 2013 - Jan 2017 | |||||||
| 2009-Jan 2013 | former member of PNDC | ||||||
| Major-General Edwin Sam | 2001 - Jan 2009 | ||||||
| March 2013 - January 2017 | |||||||
| 2009-Jan 2013 | |||||||
| Kwaku Kyei | 2005 - Jan 2009 | ||||||
| President, National House Of Chiefs | Feb 2017 - Feb 2021 | ||||||
| Nana Osei Asibey | March 2013 - Jan 2017 | ||||||
| John Naa Sebiyam Nabilla | 2009-Jan 2013 | retired academic | |||||
| Nana Otuo Siriboe Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II | 2001 - Jan 2009 | Omanhene of Sefwi-Bekwai Traditional Area | |||||
Other past members | |||||||
| width=200 | Position | width=200 | Name | width=150 | Term | width=300 | Comments |
| Mumuni Bawumia[31] | 1992 - 2000 | former Chairman of the Council of State | |||||
| Adisa Munkaila[32] | Kufuor government era | ||||||
| Fati Jawula | Rawlings government era | ||||||
| Ramatu Baba | Nkrumah government era | ||||||