President Akufo-Addo has expressed his gratitude to the Council of State for their exceptional performance and cooperation during his first term of Presidency.

According to the President, the replete advice given him by the Council during his first term as President mitigated any action which could have potentially caused havoc.

Addressing the Council at the Jubilee House after the former paid a courtesy call to him to present their final report, President Akufo-Addo noted that members have been outstanding in the discharge of their constitutional mandate.

“I can say with full confidence that I have been very lucky in the way this council of state has interacted with me. I am therefore extremely grateful for the cooperation that the Council has given.

“It will be difficult to count the numerous occasions on which you have given me advice that appealed to my better nature and perhaps prevented more ill-considered action by virtue of your intervention”.

The Council of State on their part, congratulated President Akufo-Addo on his re-election.

The congratulatory message was revealed by the incumbent President via a post on his social media handles.

“On Wednesday, 30th December 2020, the Council of State, led by its Chairperson, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, was at Jubilee House, the seat of the nation’s presidency, to congratulate me on my victory and re-election as President of the Republic.”

President Akufo-Addo further disclosed that the Council had submitted its final report to him following the expiration of the Council on January 6, 2020.

“The Chairperson also presented their third and final report of the Council of State to me, before the expiration of their tenure of office on 6th January 2021.”

Chairman of the Council of State, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Juabenhene, presenting their final report noted that suggestions and recommendations over the last four has largely been accepted and implemented by the Akufo-Addo-led government.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama, has asked the Supreme Court to require the Electoral Commission to conduct a second election between him and the incumbent, President Akufo-Addo as candidates.

In his petition to Supreme Court, Mr. Mahama contends that the results declared by the EC in favour of President Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party were “made arbitrarily, capriciously, and with bias.”

According to him, his aim of going to the Supreme Court is to seek what his opponent President Akufo-Addo sought in 2012 when he challenged the results of the Presidential election – the removal of doubt.

“Some people have asked me what I hope to gain by challenging the results of this election. Let me tell you: I want, perhaps, the very same thing that my opponent wanted when in 2012 he challenged the results of that election; I want the removal of doubt. I want for all of us to know that our elections should be free, fair, and safe—and that we do not have to settle for a process that leaves us confused, and with more questions than answers.

“So, when I say that I will not concede this election, please know that I have not taken this decision lightly; understand that it is not because of a desire for power, but because of a dedication to principle and a commitment to democracy”.