Sophia Akuffo resigned from the Council of State in September 2025
Leading member of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's campaign team, Nana Akomea, has criticised the government over the vacancy of the former Chief Justice position on the Council of State, describing it as a breach of Ghana's Constitution.
Speaking on Peace FM's Kokroo Morning show on June 16, 2026, Akomea questioned why the position had remained unfilled for nine months following the resignation of former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo from the Council of State.
According to him, the Constitution clearly states that a former Chief Justice must be a member of the Council of State, which serves as an advisory body to the President.
"The issue is very worrying. I don't understand what the government is doing," Akomea stated.
He explained that the Constitution does not permit the position to be occupied by just any individual, as it is specifically reserved for a former Chief Justice.
"Ghana's Constitution states that among the members who must constitute the Council of State is a former Chief Justice. So, if we don't have a former Chief Justice there, you can't put just anyone there under the Constitution of Ghana, and Sophia Akuffo was occupying that position," he said.
Akomea expressed surprise that Sophia Akuffo had resigned from the Council of State about nine months ago and had not been replaced despite the availability of other qualified former Chief Justices.
"Not knowing Sophia Akuffo resigned nine months ago and the position has not been filled. For nine months the position has been vacant, meanwhile there are at least two other former Chief Justices who are still alive, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood and Justice Samuel Kwadwo Ennin-Yeboah," he noted.
'I was extremely shocked to hear of Sophia Akuffo's resignation' – Kpebu
He argued that the prolonged vacancy raises serious constitutional concerns and questioned why no effort had been made to appoint a replacement.
"This is a breach of the Constitution for that position to be vacant. I mean, when you think about it, you don't understand. It's not as if we don't have former Chief Justices to fill the vacant position," Akomea stressed.
His comments come after government broke the news about Sophia Akuffo's resignation.
The Presidency on June 15, 2026, confirmed that Sophia Akuffo had resigned from the Council of State after submitting a resignation letter to President John Mahama in September 2025.
Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the former Chief Justice did not provide any reason for her decision.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, although the President was initially required to accept the resignation, the Council of State requested time to engage Justice Akuffo to determine whether any grievances could be addressed.
Following those engagements, the Council advised that the resignation could be accepted, after which President Mahama formally approved it.
Kwakye Ofosu further disclosed that processes were already underway to appoint a replacement in accordance with constitutional requirements.
He also dismissed suggestions that Akuffo's resignation was linked to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, insisting that no such reason was stated in her resignation letter.
Sophia Akuffo's Resignation: The Continued Absence of a Chief Justice on the Council of State After Nine Months Raises Serious Constitutional Concerns — Nana Akomea #Kokrokoo pic.twitter.com/vAxMvU2BTJ
— PEACE 104.3 FM (@Peace1043fm) June 16, 2026
Copyright © 1994 - 2026 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
