Amidst calls for the scrapping of the Council of State, a former Chief Justice and member of the ninth Council of State, Sophia Akuffo is alternatively suggesting that the Council of State should be revised.
This, she believes will go a long way to improve Ghana’s democracy rather than for it to be scrapped.
In an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues with Keminni Amanor on Sunday, February 23, Madam Sophia Akuffo cited other suggestion by some persons who think that the Council of State can be made an upper legislative Chamber for members to have a say in key decisions to be taken by the government.
“I’m more for revising it. I’m not too decided on that personally but some are of the view that the Council of State should in fact be converted to a second legislative chamber, like an upper chamber.
It’s a matter of policy – Sophia Akuffo on payment of ex gratia to Council of State members
“So that matters like the finances of the country, defense, those particularly key areas, they have a say in it before it is finally decided,” she stated.
She also suggested that such if such a chamber should exist, it should be backed by a legislation that would make it non-partisan to avoid the members becoming overly submissive to the executive.
“And then of course, one would also have to come up with formulation. It will ensure that even though they are there, they are still not there in a partisan capacity. Otherwise, we might end up like some countries that we know. They can become rubber stamps of the Chief Executive,” she explained.
