CDD-Ghana calls on new Council of State to avoid mistakes of predecessors
The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has called on the newly-elected members of the Council of State to avoid the mistakes of the immediate past Council and work to improve its responsiveness and accountability to the people of Ghana.
Although, the current constitutional arrangement limits the Council’s role to an advisory and consultative one, there are lessons to be learned from the experience and activities of previous Councils of State that should guide and direct the actions of the new Council, the think tank said in a press release copied to ghanabusinessnews.com.
It also indicated that the state will spend at least GH¢3.9 million on salaries per year, at the rate of GH¢13,000 a month per council member in addition to other benefits including, official vehicles, state security, and ex-gratia at the end of the four years so it is therefore important that Ghanaians get some return on this investment.
CDD-Ghana also urged the new members to serve as ‘the conscience of the nation’ and in that regard be proactive in the service of the nation rather than wait for a request from the President before it acts, citing the activities of illegal/legal small-scale miners popularly known as ‘Galamsey’ that have wreaked havoc on the country’s rivers, forests and agriculture, and threaten environmental sustainability as an example of what the new Council can help solve.
The Center, further entreats the new Council to institute periodic briefings to the public on its work and create platforms to engage the public on issues of national interest.
CDD-Ghana believes that as the public debates about the utility of the Council of State rage on, the newly sworn in members who have taken an oath to serve the nation will discharge their duty with honour and integrity so Ghanaians will be the beneficiaries during their tenure, it added.
CDD-Ghana will be watching closely how the new Council of State performs, and will periodically draw its attention to omissions and deficits to aid it in the fulfillment of its mandate, it concluded.
By Pamela Ofori-Boateng
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