Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo Resigns from Ghana’s Council of State Amid Judicial Controversy
Introduction
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo resigns from Council of State, bringing an end to her tenure on Ghana’s highest presidential advisory body. Sources familiar with the matter told Myjoyonline that the former Chief Justice stepped down from the constitutional body, marking a significant development within Ghana’s governance and judicial landscape.
Sophia Akuffo, who served as Ghana’s Chief Justice from 2017 to 2020, is believed to have submitted her resignation last year. Since then, she has not attended any meetings of the Council of State.
Neither Akuffo nor the Presidency has publicly commented on the development, and the circumstances surrounding her resignation have not been disclosed.
What is the State Council?
The Council of State Ghana is a constitutional advisory body created to advise the President on issues of national importance.
Its members are elected and appointed representatives from all over Ghana who advise on governance, policy and national issues.
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo Resigns from Council of State Following Judicial Turmoil
Akuffo’s departure comes after a turbulent period during which she became a central figure in one of Ghana’s most consequential judicial controversies.
In April 2025, the Council of State voted on whether a prima facie case had been established against then-Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. Of the Council’s 31 members, 30 voted in favour of the finding.
Sophia Akuffo was the only absentee during the vote, although the reasons behind her absence were not publicly disclosed.
Appearance Before the Article 146 Committee
In the months that followed, Akuffo took a more active role in the matter.
At the request of the suspended Chief Justice, she voluntarily appeared before the Article 146 Committee established to investigate Gertrude Torkornoo and testified in her defence.
She also publicly voiced concerns about the entire process.
Sophia Akuffo Questioned the Fairness of the Proceedings
In an interview in September 2025, Akuffo criticised the proceedings that ultimately resulted in Torkornoo’s removal, arguing that the suspended Chief Justice had not been granted a fair hearing.
She described the process as a “treason trial” and said it had weakened the judiciary.
Akuffo further argued that the allegations against Torkornoo lacked “the seriousness that would justify the grave consequence of removing the head of the judicial institution.”
Justice Sophia Akufo’s comments have been criticized by legal and political personalities.
Former Ghana School of Law Director Kwaku Ansa-Asare accused Akuffo of breaching her oath of confidentiality as a member of the Council of State, arguing that her remarks indirectly revealed information relating to confidential proceedings.
Meanwhile, Solomon Owusu, a member of the United Party, announced plans to file a petition seeking her removal from the Council of State.
He alleged that Akuffo had violated her confidentiality obligations and argued that her actions could establish a dangerous precedent.
Owusu also criticised her decision to testify as a witness for Torkornoo before the Justice Pwamang-led committee despite having participated in the process that established the prima facie case.
President Mahama signs warrant for Torkornoo removal
President Mahama has signed a warrant for the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo from office with effect from September 1, 2025.
It was a big step in a legal story that had been the talk of the country for months. Sophia Akuffo has had an illustrious career as a lawyer and is one of Ghana’s most respected judges.
Before becoming Ghana’s 13th Chief Justice, she served on the Supreme Court for over 20 years, becoming the second woman to hold this office after Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, and has also served as a judge on the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and held various senior positions in Ghana’s judiciary.
Opposition to Domestic Debt Exchange Programme
Akuffo’s tenure on the Council of State also attracted public attention in early 2023 when she joined pensioner groups opposing aspects of the government’s Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.
She argued that retirees should not bear an unfair burden as part of Ghana’s economic recovery efforts.
No Replacement Announced Yet
No official announcement has been made regarding a replacement for Sophia Akuffo on the Council of State.
The Presidency has also remained silent on the circumstances surrounding her departure.
Conclusion
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo resigns from Council of State at a time when Ghana continues to reflect on one of its most significant judicial controversies in recent history. Her reasons for resignation are not known but her resignation follows months of intense debate over the proceedings against Gertrude Torkornoo. Akuffo’s departure marks the end of an important chapter in the Council of State and Ghana’s constitutional landscape as she was one of Ghana’s most distinguished legal personalities.
Source: Myjoyonline
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