Choicenewsonline Your Choice Is Here
Eight (8) candidates have filed nomination forms at the electoral commission’s office in Kumasi of the Ashanti region to contest the upcoming regional election to elect regional representatives of council of state to counsel the president in the performance of his functions.
Key among the candidates are the incumbent council of state member who double as chief of Akrofoso, Nana Owusu Akyaw Brempong, the Assembly member for Fankyenebra electoral area, Hon Nana Prempeh, the assembly member for Akyeremade, Kwanwoma, Behenase electoral area, Hon Justice Baffuor Awuah and others.
Background
Council of State, Article 89(1) of the 1992 Constitution states that; there shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions.
Article 89(2) states that, the Council shall consist of a former IGP; a former Chief of Defense Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces; a former Chief Justice and sitting President of the National House of Chiefs. Article 89(2)(c) states that, there shall be regional representatives from every region.
The president has already selected his favorite eleven (11) members awaiting for the rest to be selected from all the sixteen (16) regions to be add up.
Since the membership drive of the district assembly is broad. Electorates are representatives who are nominate to vote on behalf of the assembly. The selection of members is done by building a consensus (general agreement). And these selected people together form the Electoral college.
The current electoral college is made of up the Presiding Members and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs). It should be on record that, though the Constitution was specific on where the selection of the two (2) members should come from; it was not specific on the calibre/position of persons to be selected.
Filing of nomination started on Monday, 1st February and it closes on Thursday, 4th February, 2021.
This year’s Council of State Elections is scheduled to come of on Friday, 12th February, 2021 at a venue where should be decide upon by the EC) in the region.
By Joseph Amoateng Jnr.kumasi.
