Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for the reconstitution of the Council of State, arguing that restructuring the body could strengthen transparency and improve the quality of public appointments in the country.
Mr. Kufuor acknowledged that the council is made up of distinguished individuals but noted that its operations are often conducted behind closed doors.
According to him, because the council’s deliberations are usually held in camera, the public may never know when key advice offered to the president is rejected.
The former president, therefore, proposed the creation of what he described as a “house of wisdom and experience,” composed of respected individuals drawn from key national institutions.
“I would rather have a second house as composed as I am trying to advocate, by the institutions like traditional authorities, the house of chiefs, the religious bodies, trade unions, academia and the individuals who have served the public in positions like the Former Chief Justice, Former IGP, Former CDS, people who have served with distinction and have retired,” he said.
Mr. Kufuor, in an interview with Joy News, suggested that such a body should comprise between 50 and 60 members and be tasked with vetting individuals nominated for key public offices to ensure appointments are based on merit.
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“When they sail through their vetting within such a body, publicly, then such a house should operate openly, I think we will get far better quality than we are getting so far,” he stated.
He stressed that the proposed chamber would operate objectively and remain non-partisan, while helping to temper the excesses of democracy and guide national decision-making.
“To the advice, the house will also debate on all public issues. Their purpose is not to defeat democracy, no. The house of democracy is the legislature, but then as I said, to temper the excesses of democracy,” he added.
