President Mahama Accepts Sophia Akuffo’s Resignation From Council of State
President John Dramani Mahama has formally accepted the resignation of former Chief Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo from the Council of State, bringing to a close a period of quiet deliberation that began when she first submitted her resignation letter in September 2025.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State for Government Communications, confirmed the decision during a press briefing at the Presidency in Accra.
“I can confirm that former Chief Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo has resigned from her position as a Member of the Council of States,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said. “She submitted a letter in September 2025 to the President indicating her desire to resign. She did not disclose the reason for wanting to resign.”
The acceptance was not immediate. When President Mahama received the resignation letter, protocol required him to indicate acceptance, but he delayed at the request of the Council of State, which sought to engage Justice Akuffo to determine whether she had specific grievances that could be addressed.
The Council subsequently reported back to the President that it had engaged with the former Chief Justice and found no ill will. “There was no bad blood between them, and her resignation could be accepted,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.
The announcement comes amid heightened public interest in the composition of the Council of State and the broader judicial landscape. The government has previously rejected claims that Justice Akuffo’s departure was connected to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, a narrative that had circulated widely on social media before official clarification was provided.
Justice Akuffo, who served as Chief Justice from 2017 to 2019, was appointed to the Council of State as one of the distinguished members whose experience and institutional knowledge are intended to guide presidential decision-making. Her departure leaves a vacancy that President Mahama is expected to fill in the coming weeks.
The Council of State, established under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, serves as an advisory body to the President. Its members include former senior public servants, traditional leaders, and other individuals whose counsel is considered valuable in the governance of the state. While the body holds no executive authority, its recommendations carry significant moral and political weight.
The quiet manner in which the resignation was handled, through institutional channels and without public acrimony, has been noted as a reflection of the maturity of Ghana’s democratic processes, even as questions about the broader political context continue to generate public debate.
Image Source: GHANA BUSINESS NEWS
