President John Kufuor on Monday held the first quarterly meeting with members of the Council of State this year, at the Castle, Osu.

The quarterly meetings provide opportunity for both the Office of the President and the Council to discuss issues of national concern and take stock of the state of the nation.

President Kufuor expressed appreciation to the Council members for their concern to the national socio-economic development efforts and the offer of objective advice to the President.

For example he said nominations submitted to the Council for appointments, were scrutinised well and their sincere and objective assessment had enabled the government to appoint competent people to serve the nation.

"You truly make me feel some powers behind the seat of the President that had enabled me to rule the nation confidently". President Kufuor thanked the Council for acknowledging the efforts made by the government since assumption of office, his re-election as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2004 elections and also his election as the Chairman of ECOWAS.

He said "these appointments are taken as reflections in the efforts of the government and the office of the President shares the honours with you as good advisers". Professor Alex Kwapong, Chairman of the Council said the re-election of President Kufuor as the flagbearer of the NPP and Chairman of ECOWAS marked the recognition of the achievements made so far in the country under his leadership to maintain a democratic rule. He urged the government to continue to devote the highest priority to the socio-economic development of the country.