Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has once again called for the complete abolition of Ghana’s Council of State. Speaking live on TV3’s KeyPoints programme on Saturday, 12 September 2026, the policy analyst and lawyer reiterated his long-held view that the body is unnecessary and should be removed as part of broader constitutional reforms.
The discussion formed part of a wider conversation on the recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee and how those proposals should be handled. Bentil used the platform to push for structural changes that he believes would make Ghana’s governance system leaner, more efficient and less costly.
Bentil has consistently described the Council of State as a redundant institution. He first made a formal proposal for its abolition in July 2025 when he submitted recommendations to the Constitutional Review Committee chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh. At the time, he argued that the Council adds little practical value to presidential decision-making while consuming public resources.
On KeyPoints today, he maintained that position. According to Bentil, the Council’s advisory role is largely ceremonial because its advice is not binding on the President in most cases. He believes Ghana can function effectively without it, freeing up resources and simplifying the constitutional architecture. His argument rests on a simple principle: institutions that do not deliver clear, measurable benefits should not be retained simply because they exist in the Constitution. In his view, the Council of State falls into that category.
Bentil’s comments came as the country continues to debate the final report of the Constitution Review Committee. He stressed that the recommendations should be sent to Parliament for open debate and approval rather than being selectively implemented by a government-appointed committee.
“Parliament is made up of the people’s representatives and can decide what the people want,” he said during the programme. He argued that filtering recommendations through an executive-led process undermines the democratic legitimacy of constitutional change.
In the same discussion, Bentil also supported the idea of extending the presidential term from four to five years. He noted that successive presidents have complained that four years is too short to implement meaningful programmes. A five-year term, he suggested, would remove that common excuse and could even encourage more one-term presidencies if performance is poor.
The Council of State has been under renewed scrutiny in recent months. Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo resigned from the body in 2025, creating a vacancy that has yet to be filled. A citizen has since filed a Supreme Court case challenging the continued operation of the Council while that seat remains vacant.
Critics of the institution often point to its limited influence and the cost of maintaining it. Supporters, including the chair of the Constitution Review Committee, have argued that it should be reformed rather than abolished, describing it as a uniquely Ghanaian body that can serve as a stabilising influence in a polarised political environment. Bentil remains firmly in the abolition camp. He has paired this proposal with other cost-cutting and efficiency measures, including capping the number of ministers at 50 and eliminating the position of regional ministers.
Whether the proposal gains traction remains to be seen. What is clear is that Bentil continues to press for a leaner system of government that prioritises results over tradition. His message on Saturday was consistent with positions he has held for years: remove what does not work, strengthen what does, and let Parliament, not the executive alone, decide the final shape of any reforms.
As the KeyPoints discussion continues, Bentil’s remarks are likely to spark fresh debate among viewers and policymakers about the future of the Council of State and the broader direction of Ghana’s constitutional development.
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