Revamp Council of State – Cletus Avoka

Former Majority Leader of Parliament, Cletus Avoka, has called for major reforms to the Council of State, expressing concern that the institution has made little progress in its operations despite more than three decades of constitutional democracy in Ghana.

Mr Avoka, who is currently a member of the Council, believes the institution needs greater financial independence, adequate office facilities and administrative support to carry out its constitutional responsibilities effectively.

Speaking at a roundtable organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) on constitutional reforms, he drew attention to the difficult working conditions of Council members, revealing that only the Chairman has a designated office.

He compared the situation to the early days of Ghana's Fourth Republic, when Members of Parliament lacked proper offices and sometimes had to carry official documents in their vehicles.

For Mr Avoka, the problem goes beyond office accommodation. He believes the Council's existing administrative and financial arrangements have limited its ability to operate as an effective constitutional institution.

He therefore wants the Council to have its own financial arrangements, which would give it greater control over its operations and reduce its dependence on the machinery of government.

His concerns formed part of a broader discussion about whether Ghana's constitutional institutions have the independence and resources necessary to perform the responsibilities assigned to them.

Mr Avoka's call brings renewed attention to the Council of State, particularly whether an institution established to advise the President can effectively perform that role without sufficient financial independence and administrative resources.

His position is that strengthening the Council must involve practical improvements to its operations, rather than merely preserving its constitutional status.

Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, who also participated in the discussion, urged the country to take the constitutional review process seriously.

She observed that democracy should ultimately lead to meaningful national development and questioned whether Ghana's existing constitutional arrangements were adequately supporting that objective.

She suggested that the difficulties experienced under the present constitutional framework made it necessary to examine how the country could strengthen its governance institutions.

Veteran legal practitioner Sam Okudzeto, who chaired the roundtable, commended the IEA for providing a platform for discussion and encouraged continued public engagement on the proposed reforms.

The programme was held under the theme, “Views and Reflections: The Prempeh Committee's Report and Government's Position on Constitutional Review.”

The Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Professor Henry Prempeh, was established in January 2025 to examine Ghana's 1992 Constitution and recommend changes to address weaknesses in the country's governance framework.

Its work covers several areas, including presidential accountability, decentralisation, public sector reforms, social justice, national security and the strengthening of democratic and justice institutions.

The Committee's recommendations are intended to inform the national debate on constitutional reforms and improve the effectiveness of public institutions.