Associating my surname to Akufo-Addo for nepotistic reasons 'irritating' - Sophia Akuffo

A former Chief Justice (CJ) of the Republic of Ghana, Sophia Akuffo has said she is irritated by association of her name 'Akuffo' with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s name.

Speaking on UpFront on JoyNews restreamed by MyNewsGh.com, Sophia Akuffo said when people attach her name to the President “as though I have no merit or capacity, yes that irritates me but I don't let it bother me”.

The former CJ said she finds it “irritating” that people refer to her as a family member of the President for which she was appointed to be Chief Justice.

The former top judge also spoke about her “ideology”.

“If you insist on ideology… which I thought was outdated after Communism… Maybe I can say I am egalitarian…” she revealed.

She said she was first appointed to the Supreme Court straight from private practice by late former President John Rawlings before President Kufour appointed her to the African Court and President Akufo-Addo made her Chief Justice. She said she cuts across as a “friend of everyone and an enemy to none”.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Communications Bureau has severally accused the Akufo-Addo government of running a family members and friends government.

The party released at the bureau’s 6th edition of the Moment of Truth, a forum the party has used to comment on important issues of governance and government policies since 2018.

But Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo later replied that he has only two family relatives in his Government.

According to the President, all allegations leveled against him to be running a family and friend Government are not true.

Nana Addo disclosed that one of the family relatives in his Government is Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta – the Finance Minister of the Republic of Ghana. “Mr. Ken Ofori Atta is my cousin.” He said and added that Amoako-Atta, Roads Minister is also related to him.