President John Dramani Mahama, on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, inaugurated the 9th Council of State of the 4th Republic of Ghana.

Article 89 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana provides for the creation of a Council of State, whose role is to "counsel the president in the performance of his functions."

The article also specifies the composition of the Council of State with 14 appointees of the president including the President of the National House of Chiefs, and one elected regional representative from each region of the country.

Among the 14 appointees, there must be a former Chief Justice, a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Ghana, and a former Inspector-General of Police.

Here is a brief introduction to the men and women serving on the 9th Council of State:

1. Former Chief Justice - Sophia Akuffo

President Mahama appointed former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo to fulfill the constitutional requirement of including a former Chief Justice on the Council of State.

Justice Sophia Akuffo served as Ghana’s Chief Justice from 2017 to 2019 after her appointment by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. She was also appointed by Akufo-Addo as Chairperson of the COVID-19 Response Public Trust Fund in 2020.

Akuffo served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana for two decades. In January 2006, she was elected as one of the first judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Initially elected for two years, she was subsequently re-elected until 2014.

She trained as a lawyer under Akufo-Addo and holds a Master’s in Law (LL.M.) from Harvard University, United States. She previously served as a member of the Governing Committee of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute and as Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force.



2. Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) - Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan



Former IGP Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan was appointed by President Mahama to fulfill the constitutional requirement of a former Inspector-General of Police on the Council of State.

COP (rtd) Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan served in the Ghana Police Service for several decades. He was appointed IGP during Mahama’s first administration in 2013.

In 2005, Alhassan was appointed as Police Commissioner for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

3. Former Chief of Defence Staff - Michael Samson-Oje



Air Marshal Michael Samson-Oje (rtd) was appointed by the president to fill the Council of State requirement of a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces.

He was a senior commander in the Ghana Air Force and was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by Mahama, a position he held from 2016 to 2017.

Before becoming Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Samson-Oje served as Chief of Air Staff. Prior to that, he was the Station Commander of Takoradi Air Base.

4. President of the National House of Chiefs - Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II



Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, the Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area in the Western Region, is a member of the Council of State by virtue of his position as the President of the National House of Chiefs of Ghana.

Ogyeahoho Gyebi, who was elected President of the National House of Chiefs in 2020, also serves as the President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs.

Other 11 Appointees of Mahama to the Council

5. Daasebre Boamah Darko II



Daasebre Boamah Darko II, the Chief of Akyem Kukuratumi in the Eastern Region, was appointed by Mahama to the Council of State. He is also the Adontenhene of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.

6. Osabarima Kwesi Atta II



The Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, was also appointed to the Council.

He has been the Paramount Chief of Oguaa (Cape Coast) for over 25 years and is known as a promoter of peace, an educationist, a sports enthusiast, an administrator, an advocate for traditional values, and a philanthropist.

7. Justice Vida Amankwah Akoto-Bamfo



Former Supreme Court Justice Vida Amankwah Akoto-Bamfo is also a member of the 9th Council of State.

She was appointed to the Supreme Court by the late former President John Evans Atta Mills and served from 2009 to 2019.

Akoto-Bamfo rose through the ranks on Ghana’s bench, serving as a District Magistrate, Circuit Court Judge, High Court Judge, Appeals Court Judge, and ultimately a Supreme Court Judge.

8. Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi I



Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi I, the Paramount Chief of the Mankpan Traditional Area in the Savannah Region, was appointed by President Mahama.

He is a member of the National House of Chiefs and previously served as Chairman of the Research and Traditional Affairs Committee of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs.

9. Cletus Avoka



Cletus Avoka, a former Member of Parliament for the Zebila Constituency in the Upper East Region, is another appointee of Mahama.

Avoka served in Ghana’s Parliament from 1993 to 2024, representing Garu-Tempane, Bawku West, and later Zebila. He held several leadership roles, including Majority and Minority Leader.

10. Edward Doe Adjaho



Former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, was appointed to the Council of State and has been elected as its Chairman.

Adjaho, a former MP for the Avenor-Ave Constituency, served in Parliament for over two decades (1993–2013) and was Speaker of the 6th Parliament.

11. Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah



Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, a former Minister for Health (1996–1998) and Ghana’s former ambassador to the Netherlands, was also appointed by the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.

12. Betty Mould-Iddrisu



Former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, was appointed to the Council.

She was Ghana’s first female Attorney General and has also held key positions at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

13. Cynthia Komley Adjetey



Businesswoman Cynthia Komley Adjetey, popularly known as "Happy Yourself," was appointed to the Council. She is renowned for her entrepreneurial ventures in the fishing industry.

14. Molly Anim Addo



Former Ambassador Molly Anim Addo, who served as Ghana’s ambassador to Italy and other European nations, is another appointee.

15. Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II



The Queen Mother of the Ayima Traditional Area in the Bono Region, Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II, is the only queen mother on the 9th Council of State.

Elected Regional Representatives on the Council of State:

1. Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey - Greater Accra Region:

Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, chief of the people of Se, won the Greater Accra Council of State election.

Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, aside from his traditional roles, is a renowned entrepreneur.

He is also an international consultant and public speaker with a passion for promoting Ghanaian culture, heritage, and business opportunities.



2. Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni - Northern Region:



Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, a former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, was elected as the Council of State representative for the Northern Region.

Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, a leading member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), is also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He was the running mate of the late former President Prof John Evans Atta Mills in the 2004 presidential election.

3. Michael Kwame Mumuni - Upper West Region:



The 1st Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress in the Upper West Region, Michael Kwame Mumuni, won the Council of State elections for the Upper West Region.

The NDC regional vice chairman was challenged by 10 other men for the position.

4. Gabriel Dovoe Kwabla Kwamigah-Atokple - Volta Region:



For the Volta Region, businessman Gabriel Dovoe Kwabla Kwamigah-Atokple emerged winner of the Council of State election.

Kwamigah-Atokple, popularly known as Tanko, beat his 12 male contenders for the position.

5. Richard Atikpo - Oti Region:



Renowned football administrator Richard Atikpo won his re-election bid to represent the people of the Oti Region on the Council of State.

Richard Atikpo, the bankroller of Ghanaian football club Legon Cities, was the Oti Region Council of State representative during the second term of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He previously contested in the NDC parliamentary primaries for the Ketu South Constituency in the Volta Region.

6. Hakeem Addae - Central Region:



Another executive of the ruling NDC won the Council of State election for the Central Region.

The NDC constituency chairman for the Twifo Atti Morkwa Constituency, Hakeem Addae, was elected as the Council of State Member to represent the Central Region.

7. Evelyn Korang - Eastern Region:



Evelyn Korang, former Eastern Regional Organiser of the National Democratic Congress, was elected as the Council of State representative for the Eastern Region.

She is the first female to be elected to the Council of State Member position for the region.

She beat 23 people to the position, including the chief of Kwahu Obomeng, Nana Effa Penamang.

8. Dr Maxwell Boakye - Western Region:



Dr Maxwell Boakye, a 32-year-old entrepreneur, was elected to serve as the representative for the Western Region on the Council of State.

Dr Boakye, a gold dealer, secured 17 of the 28 electoral college votes to win the contest.

9. Odeneho Dr Afram Brempong III - Bono Region:



The Paramount Chief of the Suma Traditional Area, Odeneho Dr Afram Brempong III, was elected to represent the Bono Region.

Odeneho Brempong III, aside from his traditional duties, is a management consultant as well as an entrepreneurship business development and organisational intelligence management expert.

He holds a doctorate in Business Administration from California Intercontinental University, USA, a Master’s degree in Strategic and Consultancy Management from Paris Graduate School of Management, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Cape Coast.

10. Nana Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese - Bono East Region:



The Paramount Chief of the Yeji Traditional Area, Nana Pimampim Yaw Kagbrese V, was elected as the Council of State representative for the Bono East Region.

Nana Kagbrese secured 11 of the 22 electoral college votes, beating his 10 challengers for the position.

11. Yaw Okyere - Ahafo Region:



For the Ahafo Region, the NDC Regional Chairman for the region, Yaw Okyere, emerged victorious in the Council of State Election.

Okyere secured six votes to beat his keen contender Abraam Agyemang, who had four votes out of the 12 votes cast.

12. Michael Aidoo - Western North Region:



The Western North Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Michael Aidoo, won the Council of State election for the region.

Beyond politics, Aidoo is a philanthropist and also a distinguished businessman. The NDC chairman, who is a contractor and consultant, is also the Founder and Chancellor of KAAF University.

13. Tingawura Alhaji Samson Seidu Abudu - Savannah Region:



In the Savannah Region, Tingawura Alhaji Samson Seidu Abudu was elected as the region’s Council of State representative.

Tingawura Alhaji Samson Seidu Abudu is the chief of Tinga. He is also the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Council of Elders in the Savannah Region.

14. Chiana Pio Thomas More Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III - Upper East Region:



Chiana Pio Thomas More Ditundini Adiali Ayagitam III was elected to represent the Upper East Region.

Ayagitam III is the Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional Area in the Upper East Region.

15. Yaw Owusu Obimpeh (Ashanti Region)



Former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, won the Ashanti Regional Council of State election with 49 out of 86 votes.

16. Naa Saaka Abuba (North East Region)



The Chief of Kuba, Naa Saaka Abuba, was elected as the Council of State representative for the North East Region, securing seven out of 12 votes against his competitor, Asabigi San Malunga Nasamu.

BAI/MA

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