Your Excellency the Vice President,
Distinguished members of the Council of State,
The framers of our constitution in their wisdom envisioned a governance structure that balances authority with sound counsel, power with prudence and leadership with wisdom.
It is in this spirit that the Council of State was established to serve as a reservoir of experience and a fountain of guidance and a bastion of non-partisan insight for the Executive arm of government.
The Council of State as a distinguished and visionary body is composed of men and women of integrity, experience and sound judgement.
Your role is not merely ceremonial. It is one of profound responsibility. You are expected to offer wise counsel on matters of governance, policy and national development, drawing from your diverse backgrounds and experience.
The times we find ourselves in demands nothing less than selfless service, constructive dialogue and unwavering patriotism.
Our nation faces complex challenges including economic distress, social cohesion issues and the need to strengthen our democratic institutions.
In addressing these issues, your voices must be heard, not in mere rhetoric, but in insightful, actionable and transformative guidance that will propel our nation forward.
As you take your oath of office today, I urge you to be guided by the principles of objectivity, integrity and above all, the national interest.
Let your deliberations be moved by sincerity, your advice be rooted in wisdom and your service be inspired by the supreme well-being of the people of Ghana.
I also wish to draw your attention to heightened expectation of all who serve in public office. Ghanaians have indicated their revulsion for poor governance and have come to expect quality administration of their affairs.
In recent times, the Council of State has come under criticism from an expectant public who perceive their work as unsatisfactory and one designed to rubber-stamp executive decisions. Some have even questioned the very relevance of the Council of State and called for it to be scrapped.
I hold that hope that your tenure as Council of State Members will convince those who may doubt the functional necessity about your importance and put to rest any such perceptions.
I am confident that with your collective wisdom, we will continue to build a nation that upholds justice, freedom, progress and unity.”
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