Theodora Wood joins Council of State

The immediate past Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has been nominated by President Akufo-Addo to fill the last place on the Council of State membership. The slot was a reserved for former Chief Justice of the country. Her appointment was announced by the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye whiles reading a communiqué from the presidency on Thursday. Mrs. George Wood retired as Ghana’s first female Chief Justice on June 8, 2017 after 47 years of public service. Her appointment to the Council will be in line with a provision of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which requires a former Chief Justice to be included in the 25-membership of the Council. Article 89(2)(i) of the Constitution states there shall be a Council of State which shall consist of “one person who has previously held the office of Chief Justice”. In view of the absence of a living former Chief Justice, Ghana’s Council of State has at least in the past decade, not had the 25 membership as required by the Constitution “to counsel the President in the performance of his functions”. A 24-membership Council made up of 10 regional elected representatives and 14 others appointed by the President, was on February 25, 2017 sworn into office by Nana Akufo-Addo. Source: editors.3news.com | Ghana