Mr. Kingsley Adjei, a political sociologist, has defended the maintenance of the position of the Special Advisor to the president, despite calls for it to be scrapped. The position and its former occupant, Dr. Mary Chinery Hesse have both come under serious attack, following the infamous ex-gratia award for ex-presidents. Dr. Hesse was the chairman for the committee that proposed the award which was subsequently approved by parliament. Some critics say, the position duplicates the Council of State which is constitutionally mandated to advise the president, and should be done away with. Even though the two portfolios have some similarities, Mr. Adjei says they can still be maintained but with a higher level of pro-activity, especially from the Council of State. He told Joys News on Thursday, the president must have a close confidant whose knowledge and experience on governance is without blemish and who will advise the president on day-to-day activities, unlike the Council of State which advises the president on special issues as security and chieftaincy. The Council of State is made up of 25 persons nominated by the president from the security, chieftaincy, media and other institutions of state. Mr. Kingsley Adjei who is also a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast expressed regret over the political affinity which has characterised nominations into the Council of State, a situation he says has rendered the institution rarely useful. He advised prospective appointees into the council of State to be more vocal in order to prevent the president from taking decisions which would not be in the interest of the country. Story by Nathan Gadugah