Aide to Ghanaian politician Alan Kyerematen, Nana Yaw Sarpong, has called for a comprehensive review of the electoral process for the Council of State, citing concerns over transparency and credibility.
Speaking on Bullet TV’s Morning Target programme on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, Mr. Sarpong expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the recent elections, warning that if reforms are not introduced, the situation could worsen in future polls.
“After a careful observation of the various regions on how the elections went, I realise there must be a review of the entire Council of State electoral process,” he told Nana Kweku Aduah, who co-hosts the programme with Seli Acolatse Apaloo.
The election was marred by scuffles, brawls and violence in some regions. In the Ashanti Region, for instance, muscled thugs stormed the centre of the election and disrupted the whole process.
In Mr Sarpong’s view, “Looking at what happened yesterday and looking into the future, we would experience worse things.”
The Council of State is an advisory body to the President of Ghana, guiding on key national issues.
However, concerns have been raised over the criteria used in electing its members and the influence of financial power in the electoral process.
Mr. Sarpong stressed that members of the Council should be chosen based on their experience, wisdom, and societal impact rather than financial influence. “We should be looking at age, experience, the impact the person has had on society, the number of people that individual has been able to mentor, and their credentials—not necessarily academic but societal,” he argued.
He also questioned the credibility of the elections, alleging that they had been reduced to a contest of financial strength rather than a selection of wise and experienced individuals. “The elections looked ordinary, and the winners were dictated by who has more money,” he added.
Beyond electoral reforms, Mr. Sarpong and his Movement for Change believe that the Council of State should be scrapped entirely and replaced with a second chamber of Parliament.
According to him, such a body should be granted constitutional authority to hold the President and other arms of government accountable.
“We of the Movement for Change believe the Council of State should be scrapped and a second chamber introduced with more power and authority, with a more significant constitutional mandate that can pin the President and his appointees, as well as other arms of government, to listen to their counsel,” he stated.
