On 17th June 2026, the Minister of State for Government Communication at the Presidency during a press briefing disclose that former chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has resigned from the council of state. Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu also confirmed widespread media reports that Justice Akuffo tendered her resignation as far back as September 2025.
Addressing questions from the media, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that the resignation was not publicly disclosed at the time because the Presidency received the impression that the former Chief Justice might be persuaded to reconsider her decision. According to him, subsequent communication from Justice Akuffo made it clear that she wished her resignation be respected, following which the President accepted her decision.
The Council of State forms part of Ghana’s constitutional architecture and is mandated to counsel the President in the performance of his functions. Established under Chapter 9 of the Constitution, the body comprises both elected and appointed members drawn from across the country.
Justice Akuffo, who served as Chief Justice from 2017 to 2020, remains one of Ghana’s foremost jurist. Before her elevation to be Chief Justice, she served as a Justice of the Supreme Court and previously sat on the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Her tenure on the Supreme Court saw her participate in several landmark constitutional and public interest cases(Morkor v Kuma; Awuni v Waec).
As Chief Justice, she presided over a number of high-profile matters, including the widely publicised Montie 3 proceedings, which arose from contempt allegations against radio panelists and a programme host following hostile comments directed at the judiciary. The case generated significant national debate concerning judicial authority, freedom of expression and the law of contempt.
As of the time of publication, no official reason has been publicly provided for her decision to resign from the Council of State. What is beyond dispute, however, are the constitutional implications of her departure.
Her resignation leaves vacant the seat reserved under the Constitution for a former Chief Justice on the Council of State, thereby requiring the appointment of another former Chief Justice to fill the vacancy.
Presently, aside from Justice Sophia Akuffo, Ghana has three living former Chief Justices: Justices Georgina Theodora Wood, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, and Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo. It remains to be seen whom the President will appoint to succeed Justice Akuffo on the Council of State.
