Council of State Members Should Be Volunteers – Amoako Baah

Dr Richard Amoako Baah, a political scientist has said the country should consider getting volunteers to work as members of the council of state.

He said the move will help the country save money as well as encourage only competent people to apply.

Amoako Baah’s comment comes after Togbe Afede XIV returned GHC365,392.67 paid to him as ex-gratia for serving on the Council of State between 2017 and 2020.

According to the paramount chief, it is inappropriate to be paid ex-gratia since he was given monthly wages for serving on the council.

However, speaking on the Big Bulletin on Asaase radio, Amoako Baah said, “The chief has done very well. Even though he has done well, it has exposed the corruption that is going on there …”

He said, “That’s one of the things [ex-gracia] that I don’t think we have to have. We can have volunteers to do it [to be Council of State members] … we have all sorts of institutions to advise the president. Why do we need this one [Council of state]?”

“So, yes, it should be scrapped … we don’t have money…we’ll be surprised how many competent people will apply to do it for free if you put this across. There are people in there who are not competent to be there [council of state],” Amoako Baah added.