Omanghana
President John Dramani Mahama delayed accepting the resignation of former Chief Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo from the Council of State after members of the advisory body requested additional time to engage with her, according to Minister of State for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing on June 15, 2026, Kwakye Ofosu confirmed that Justice Akuffo had officially resigned from the Council and outlined the circumstances surrounding the delayed acceptance of her resignation.
Resignation Submitted in September 2025
The minister disclosed that Justice Akuffo initially submitted her formal resignation letter to President Mahama in September 2025. According to him, the letter did not provide any official reason for her decision to step down from the Council of State.
Although the President was prepared to acknowledge the resignation upon receipt, the process was temporarily paused following a request from the Council itself.
Council Sought Time to Engage Former Chief Justice
Kwakye Ofosu explained that members of the Council of State asked the President to delay accepting the resignation so they could meet with Justice Akuffo and determine whether any concerns or grievances had prompted her decision.
The engagement, he said, was intended to explore whether her membership on the advisory body could be preserved.
Following those discussions, the Council informed the President that it had completed its consultations with the former Chief Justice and found no lingering disputes or misunderstandings that required further intervention.
With the Council raising no objections, President Mahama subsequently proceeded to formally accept her resignation.
Process Underway to Appoint Replacement
The government also confirmed that constitutional procedures have begun to identify and appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy created by Justice Akuffo’s departure from the Council of State.
An announcement regarding her successor is expected once the required processes have been completed.
Resignation Follows High-Profile Judicial Dispute
While Justice Akuffo did not state a reason for resigning in her letter, her departure came after a contentious period involving deliberations over then-Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
In April 2025, Justice Akuffo was the sole abstaining member when the 31-member Council of State voted by a margin of 30 to 1 to establish a prima facie case against Chief Justice Torkornoo.
She later criticized the proceedings publicly, describing them as unfair and comparing the process to a “treason trial,” remarks that drew significant public attention and fueled debate over the handling of the matter.
Although no official link has been established between those events and her resignation, the timing has generated widespread public interest in the circumstances surrounding her exit from the Council of State.
Source: Omanghana
