Regional representatives elected to Council of State

Accra, Feb. 10, GNA - Ten Regional Representatives to the Council of State, were on Tuesday elected to replace the old Council, whose term expired at the end of the first four-year term of President John Agyekum Kufuor.

The representatives were elected by electoral colleges comprising two representatives from each of the district assemblies in the 10 regions, in accordance with regulations made by the Electoral Commission under Article 51 of the Constitution.

The Regional Representatives are: Mr John Saka Addo, former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Greater Accra Region; Mr Benjamin Asonaba Dapaah, Ashanti Region; Togbe Kpankpatriku III, Paramount Chief of Dodome Traditional Area, Volta Region and Mr Ato Essuman, a Management Consultant, for the Central Region.

Mr Paul Kwabeng Damoah, a 72-year-old Agriculturist, is the representative of the Western Region; Mr Frederich Guggisberg Yaw Ofori-Atta Asante, 75, Eastern Region and Mr Michael Kwadwo Adusah, 71-year-old retired Assistant Superintendent of Police is for the Brong-Ahafo Region.

In the Northern Region, Professor Sabiyan Sulemana, Chief of Wulugu Traditional Area, was elected as the Regional Representative; Mr Francis Asianab Afoko, 79-year old Hotelier, is for the Upper East Region and Kuoro Kuri-Buktie Limann, Paramount Chief of Gwollu Traditional Area is for Upper West Region.

The President of the National House of Chiefs is an ex-officio member. The President is mandated to appoint one person, who had previously held the office of Chief Justice, Chief of Defence Staff and Inspector-General of Police and 11 other members.

A candidate to the Council must be a citizen of Ghana, a registered voter and of sound mind. He or she must be resident in or hail from the Region for which he or she was seeking to represent and should not have been adjudged or declared bankrupt.

A candidate should not have been convicted for a high crime or treason or of any offence punishable by death or by a sentence of more than 10 years.

A report of commission or committee of inquiry must not have found the candidate to be incompetent to hold public office. He or she must not be a member of the Electoral College constituted to elect the regional representative.