Govt’s silence on former chief Justice Sophia Akuffo’s resignation from Council of State ‘shocking’ – Fiifi Boafo
Former Head of Corporate Affairs at COCOBOD, Fiifi Boafo, has criticised the government’s apparent silence following media reports that former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo resigned from the Council of State several months ago.
Speaking on GHOne TV’s Morning Show, GH Today on Monday, 15th June, 2026, Boafo expressed concern over the lack of official communication from the presidency regarding the vacancy in the constitutional body, which reserves a seat for a former Chief Justice.
According to him, this development raises questions about adherence to constitutional provisions.
“I shared the position by people who have said that the woman has demonstrated a very principled position as a Ghanaian. But I do not want to go further because I still do not know her reason for resigning from the Council of State. But of course, certain things have happened, and it could be the basis for us to draw some conclusions out of what is happening,” he said.
According to Boafo, he could not fathom why the government has failed to make the decision public.
“The most worrying part of it, why has government kept quiet about this? Did they have to take the media to tell us that Madam Sophia Akuffo has resigned her position as a member of the Council of State,?” he queried.
Reports indicate that Justice Akuffo, who served as Chief Justice from 2017 to 2020 and was appointed to the 9th Council of State in February 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama, submitted her resignation late last year.
She has reportedly not attended Council meetings since then. No official statements have been issued by Akuffo or the Presidency confirming the reasons for her exit.
Boafo linked the resignation to the controversial removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo in August-September 2025, during which Akuffo was noted for her dissenting position.
“If what we are hearing, that it is as a result of how the former Chief Justice, Madam Mrs. Torkornoo was hanged out of her position, if that is the reason…almost a year, the President does not see the need to have a former Chief Justice as part of the Council of State,” he said.
He further questioned the President’s commitment to the Constitution.
“Really, the President does not want to respect the Constitution of our country? That says that he must appoint a former Chief Justice as a member of the Council of State? Really? The President… has decided to even keep quiet about it. Why? What is he hiding,?” he asked.
Boafo speculated on potential successors, mentioning former Chief Justices Georgina Wood and Aning Yeboah, while underscoring the limited options available.
The Council of State serves as a key advisory body to the President under the 1992 Constitution.
“Or is it a case that, who, if this one cannot be there, who, which one, which one? Do I go back to Georgina Wood? Or do I go to Aning Yeboah? Charlie, I don’t have a choice, so let me just keep quiet about it…,” he speculated.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
