The Council of State in Ghana is a body of prominent citizens, analogous to the Council of Elders in the traditional political system, which advises the president on national issues.
The Council of State was established by Articles 89 to 92 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana: "There shall be a Council of State to counsel the President in the performance of his functions."The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992: The Council of State
Membership The Council of State should include a former Chief Justice of Ghana, a former Chief of the Defence Staff and a former Inspector General of Police and the president of the National House of Chiefs. Each region of Ghana also has an elected representative. The President of Ghana also appoints eleven members. Members stay in office until the term of office of the president ends.
Every four years, the Electoral Commission of Ghana organises elections to fill the elected positions. There is an Electoral College formed in every region to elect their representative. The College is made up of two representatives nominated by each District Assembly. Any registered voter who is a citizen of Ghana is qualified to stand for election. Nominations for each person must be proposed and seconded by two registered voters from the region and be supported by a further twenty voters from the region. The voting by the Electoral College is usually held at the Regional Capital.
Meetings The council is required to meet four times a year. It can also meet if requested by the President of Ghana, the Parliament of Ghana or by at least five sitting members of the council. There should be more than half the members of the Council at a meeting to form a quorum. Decisions of the council are valid if voted for by the majority of members present at the meeting. The Council regulates its own procedures subject to the provisions of the Ghana Constitution.
Current members Following the change of government in January 2025, the membership of the Council of State will be changing. Elections are being held for the elected regional representatives on 11 February 2025 in all regional capitals. The new President will also be nominating his eleven appointees to the Council. 154 people made up of 144 men and 10 women contested the elected positions in all 16 regions. In 2025, the total membership of the Electoral College in all regions was 522, consisting of 2 voters from each District Assembly. The election in the Ashanti Region did not occur as scheduled as thugs disrupted proceedings and destroyed materials. There was a tie in North Eastern Region so a re-run was scheduled for 13 February 2025. The final list of elected members and those appointed by Mahama were sworn in on 18 February 2025 at Jubilee House.
Elected members Name Term Comments Yaw Okyere 11 Feb 2025 - present Ahafo Region Yaw Owusu Obimpeh 19 Feb 2025 - present Ashanti Region Odeneho Afram Brempong III(aka Kusi Boachie Yiadom) 11 Feb 2025 - present Bono RegionParamount Chief of the Suma Traditional AreaAssistant Registrar in charge of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Energy and Natural Resources Nana Pimampim Yaw Kabrese V 11 Feb 2025 - present Bono East region. Paramount Chief of the Yeji Traditional AreaPresident of the Bono East Regional House of Chiefs Habib Hakeem 11 Feb 2025 - present Central Region A miner Evelyn Korang 11 Feb 2025 - present Eastern Region Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey I(aka Kingsley A. Fletcher) 11 Feb 2025 - present Greater Accra Region International Consultant, Author and Public Speaker Saaka Abuba 19 Feb 2025 - present North East Region. Muhammad Mumuni 11 Feb 2025 - present Northern RegionForeign Minister under President Mills Richard Kings Atikpo Feb 2021 – present Oti Region. First person to represent the Region. Only member re-elected in 2025. Tingawura Samson Seidu Abudu 11 Feb 2025 – present Savannah Region Chief of Tinga Thomas More Pe Adiale Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III, Chiana Pio 11 Feb 2025 - present Upper East RegionParamount Chief of the Chiana Traditional AreaPresident of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs Michael Kwame Mumuni 11 Feb 2025 – present Upper West Region Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple Volta Region. Businessman Maxwell Boakye 11 Feb 2025 – present Western Region. Michael Aidoo 11 Feb 2025 - present Western North RegionAppointed members Edward Adjaho 19 Feb 2025 - present Former Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana (Volta Region) Cletus Avoka 19 Feb 2025 - present Former MP for Zebilla (Upper East Region) Betty Mould-Iddrisu 19 Feb 2025 - present Former Attorney General (Ashanti Region) Vida Akoto-Bamfo 19 Feb 2025 - present Former Supreme Court judge (Greater Accra Region) Eunice Brookman-Amissah 19 Feb 2025 - present Former Minister for Health (Central Region) Molly Anim Addo 19 Feb 2025 - present Former Ambassador (Greater Accra Region) Daasebre Boamah Darko 19 Feb 2025 - present Chief of Akyem Kukuratumi (Eastern Region) Osabarima Kwesi Attah II 19 Feb 2025 - present Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area (Central Region) Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi I 19 Feb 2025 - present Paramount Chief of the Mankpan Traditional Area (Savannah Region) Cynthia Komley Adjetey 19 Feb 2025 - present (Greater Accra Region) Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II 19 Feb 2025 - present Queen Mother of Ayima Traditional Area (Bono Region)Ex-Officio Members Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II 12 Nov 2020 - present President of the National House of ChiefsParamount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area Air Marshall Michael Samson-Oje 19 Feb 2025 - present former Chief of the Defence Staff Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan 19 Feb 2025 - present former Inspector General of Police Sophia Akuffo 19 Feb 2025 - present former Chief Justice of Ghana
Past members of the Council of State
2021 to 2025 The membership from the past four years was sworn in by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 23 February 2021 at the Jubilee House. The vacant position reserved for former Chief Justice of Ghana was filled following the appointment of Georgina Theodora Wood following her retirement.