Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has resigned from Ghana’s Council of State, Citi News has confirmed. Sources indicate that Justice Akuffo tendered her resignation late last year, ending her service on the constitutional advisory body that provides counsel to the President on governance and national affairs.
Although no official reason has been given, information available to Citi News suggests she stopped attending Council meetings after deliberations concerning the removal process of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. Justice Akuffo, who served as Chief Justice from 2017 until her retirement in 2020, was part of the Council that reviewed petitions seeking Justice Torkornoo’s removal.
Her stance during those proceedings drew significant public attention, as she was the sole member of the Council of State who did not endorse the finding that a prima facie case had been established against the then Chief Justice. At a crucial vote held in April 2025, 30 members endorsed the finding, while Justice Akuffo abstained. She did not publicly state the reasons for her decision.
The former Chief Justice’s resignation marks the departure of one of the country’s most prominent legal figures from the Council of State at a time when discussions about judicial independence and constitutional governance continue to generate public debate. Neither the Council of State nor the Presidency has publicly commented on the resignation.
Source: Patricia Boakye
