CDD Ghana
The Council of State has expressed displeasure about the Center for Democratic Development’s (CDD’s) recent publication asking the council members to justify the GH¢13,000 monthly salary paid them.
In a statement signed by Richie Osei Asiedu, Ag. Secretary to the council, reacting to CDD’s publication it stated, “Although an admonition to any establishment to fulfill its mandate is generally a welcome call, indicating the expectations of the one making the call, it is also worrying to adduce other comments that are considered unfortunate.”
It said, “On whether the said allowance or salary is deemed appropriate in the eyes of CDD and others who hold similar view, it is worth noting that council members, for most of the previous councils to date, have been men and women who have accomplished laurels in public and private sectors and not members seeking for survival.
“To many, service to mother Ghana and generations to come, has been the motivation rather than the alleged benefits always trumpeted in the media.”
The statement said by the 1992 Constitution, the Council of State is part of Article 71 office holders whose emoluments are determined by a Presidential Committee on Emoluments with laid-down processes and the outcome of the recent committee could be obtained from the appropriate institution.
“It is, therefore, perplexing to observe from the publication that a reputable institution such as the CDD could not better analyse such document to know the actual conditions of service of sitting Council of State members but to follow the wagon of generalization.
“Adopting the posture of ‘accuse and get a defenc’ should not be encouraged as the 7th Council of State aims at ensuring wider consultation in its work, which we believe has been the practice with past Councils of State,” it maintained.
The statement said it is on record that in the spirit of consultation with stakeholders, previous councils had cooperated with the CDD to discuss election-related issues.
It said although the public could plead ignorance of the council’s activities, the CDD, among many others, could not comfortably claim same.
“This is because the council, despite the Constitutional provision of holding meetings in camera, has since 2002 published reports that have been widely circulated to both Government and non-governmental institutions, including foreign embassies, educational institutions, libraries, etc. The report of the 6th Council is currently in circulation. This practice is to fill the void of understanding the work of the Council of State over the years,” the statement indicated.
On the volume of work of the council, it said reference could be made to the speech delivered by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the swearing-in of the 7th Council, and the response from it (Council).
BY Cephas Larbi
