Former President Jerry John Rawlings has called for the tightening of the selection process for Council of State members, to protect the sanctity of the institution.

He said the current pre-qualifying process is too relaxed that persons who will not pass the ethical test get elected onto the Council.

Speaking at a programme held by the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung Foundation in Accra Wednesday, the ex-President said a well-chosen Council of State is an asset to the President.

“A member of the Council must possess certain characteristics [such as] honour, courage, truthfulness, love for human…[and] spirituality” but unfortunately some do not possess these qualities, he lamented.

The ex-President’s remark is to stoke the already divided public debate over the relevance of the Council in the country's development march.

The 1992 Constitution in Article 89 establishes the Council of State to counsel the President in the discharge of his functions.

“The Council of State shall consider and advise the President or any other authority in respect of any appointment which is required by this Constitution or any other law to be made in accordance with the advice of, or in consultation with, the Council of State,” Article 91 of the Constitution said.

But some government experts have called for the abolishment of the Council, since its advise is not binding on the President.

Although he insisted that the quality of Council of State members does not meet expectation, ex-President Rawlings said the institution remains an important Constitutional body that has to be retained.

"It is not one of the institutions in the constitution to be abolished," he said, adding "the Council represents one of those institutions that grew out of our system of governance."

Mr Rawlings said a properly constituted Council of State, which is not afraid to point out the errors of any President will surely get the "ears of any matured President."

He also said claims that the role of the Council conflicts with that of the Cabinet will not arise if the two bodies stick to their functions prescribed by the Constitution.

"The Council [has] to counsel the president on critical matters of national importance [while] cabinet is to assist the President in more technical [areas]," the former President said.

Mr Rawlings implored the current Council of State members to make themselves accessible to the public in order to demystify public perception about their function.

"The members of the Council must speak from a point of strength and expertise...they must become the eyes and ears of the President by engaging with the ministry and judiciary, all arms of government," he added.