Former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Inusah Fuseini, has criticised the declining influence of the Council of State, blaming excessive political interference for weakening its role in national governance.

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According to him, while the Council was originally established to provide independent counsel to the president and serve as a valuable check on the executive, it has been eroded by partisan interests that compromise its effectiveness.

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"Potentially, it is a very important institution, but it has been rendered weak by the unnecessary politicisation of that institution and the overbearing influence of the executive," he remarked during an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, February 12.

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Fuseini maintained that the Council still holds promise as a “potentially useful institution” but stressed that political interference has diminished its authority.

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His comments come in the wake of controversy surrounding the recent elections for regional representatives to the Council of State. The exercise, held on Tuesday, was marred by violence and allegations of electoral malpractices in several regions.

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In the Ashanti Region, a chaotic scene unfolded as thugs stormed the election centre, destroying voting materials and reportedly assaulting journalists covering the event. The Electoral Commission (EC) was forced to suspend the election, with no new date yet announced.

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The Greater Accra Region also witnessed heated confrontations between supporters of rival candidates, while in the Volta Region, allegations of vote-buying overshadowed the process.

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Despite these setbacks, some regions successfully conducted their elections, electing young representatives to the Council of State.

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