Race For Ashanti Council Of State Membership Heats Up

From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi Otumfuo’s Mmawerehene, Baffour Osei Brantuo Hyaiaman V, is the one to beat in the race for the membership of the Council of State in the Ashanti Region, when 22 other aspirants vie for the slot in the elections, slated for February 9, 2017. The race has gathered momentum, as aspirants have picked […]

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From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi

Otumfuo’s Mmawerehene, Baffour Osei Brantuo Hyaiaman V, is the one to beat in the race for the membership of the Council of State in the Ashanti Region, when 22 other aspirants vie for the slot in the elections, slated for February 9, 2017.

The race has gathered momentum, as aspirants have picked nomination forms for the elections, with the oldest aspirant being 92, and the youngest 21.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has, since Tuesday January 17, 2017, opened nominations in the run up to the contest. Submission of nomination forms closed on January 26, 2017.

The Council of State is mandated to play an advisory role to the President or any other authority in respect of any appointment required by the Constitution.

It may also upon request, or on its own initiative,  consider and make recommendations on any  matter being considered or dealt with by the President, a Minister of State or any other  authority.

Among the over 23 candidates are Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem II, Omanhene of Tepa Traditional Area; Kumasi-based media practitioner Mr. Alexander Asare, and Nana Owusu Achiaw Brempong, Chief of Agona-Akrofonso in the Sekyere South District, and Mr. Dennis Kwakwa, NPP Communicator.
Mr. Michael Yeboah, Ashanti Regional Administrator of the EC in charge of the nomination forms, who gave out the forms to the aspirants, indicated that the contestants were expected to file their forms between January 20 and 25, 2017.

The Regional Director of the EC, Mr. Serebour Quaicoe, disclosed that three of the aspirants had, as at Wednesday, filed their forms for consideration. Baffour Osei Brantuo Hyiaman, a Special Aide to the Asantehene and head of the Mmawere division of 100 chiefs, is also a medical practitioner, medical editor and publisher.

The Chronicle has gathered that the Tepahene might not submit his forms because of the candidature of Otumfuo’s Mmawerehene.

Mr. Asare, 35, who is a senior reporter at Light FM, said it was time “fresh blood” was injected into the Council of State to provide best advisory services to the Presidency.

He noted that the Council of State is not a preserve for only the aged (grey hairs), but that the youth had a stake to contribute to national development.

He expressed his commitment to advise the President on local governance, and ensure that by-laws on sanitation at the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are effectively enforced.
The Akronfonsohene, on his part, indicated that membership of Council of State is non-partisan, and that competent persons were needed to partner the President and the government to realise the agenda of improving the living standards of the citizenry.
According to him, being a member of the Council of State involves considering the party’s manifesto against the national developmental agenda, and advice on the feasibility of the two programmes.

 

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