Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for the creation of a second, non-elected chamber to advise presidents and strengthen accountability within Ghana’s governance system.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Kufuor said the current advisory structure, provided by the Council of State, is insufficient for ensuring transparency and public accountability. He expressed concern that the Council’s in-camera meetings make it difficult for the public to know how decisions are being guided.
“In spite of the fact that the committee is composed of quite distinguished people, somehow the perception is that it is more or less mandated to advise just the executive, the president, and meet the president in-camera,” he said.
He questioned how the public could be informed if the president engages in actions that require scrutiny, even when the Council provides advice behind closed doors.
Kufuor proposed a second chamber composed of individuals with diverse expertise, not elected through the democratic process, but appointed from recognised institutions and among those with a strong record of public service.
“So I would rather have a second house, composed not so much on the basis of democracy, but from identifiable institutions in the land, and also a few individuals who have served the public, to be there to temper the excesses of democracy,” he explained.
The former president argued that such a chamber would provide broader oversight, help balance the political system, and ensure that critical advice is transparent and accountable to the nation.