Former Chief Justice, Sophia Abena Boafoaa Akuffo, is officially not a member of the Council of State, following the acceptance of her resignation by President John Dramani Mahama.
This was announced by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, on Monday, June 15, 2026, confirming completion of the resignation process. He said steps are underway to appoint a replacement in accordance with the Constitution.
According to Kwakye Ofosu, Justice Akuffo submitted a resignation letter to the President in September 2025, indicating her intention to step down from the advisory body.
He says the former Chief Justice did not provide reasons for her decision.
“I can confirm that indeed, Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo has resigned from her position as a member of the Council of State. 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,” Kwakye Ofosu told journalists at a media briefing.
He revealed that the Council itself intervened in the development, which caused a temporary delay in the presidency’s acknowledgement and receipt of the letter.
The Abura Asebu Kwamankese MP explained that the Council requested some time to engage Madam Akuffo to ascertain whether there were some concerns that could be addressed for her to rescind her resignation.
“When the President received the letter, he was required then to indicate his acceptance of her resignation. But at the behest of the Council of State, he had to hold on because they said they wanted to engage Justice Sophia Akuffo to see if there was some grievance that she had that was informing the resignation and whether or not there was a way that it could be addressed,” he explained.
He said the Council later informed the President that Madam Akuffo had not changed her mind on the decision, and advised that the resignation be accepted.
“But they went back and said that they had engaged and as far as they were concerned, the resignation could be accepted. So, the President has formally accepted her resignation, and she is no longer a member of the Council of State,” he added.
Justice Sophia Akuffo served as Chief Justice from 2017 until her retirement in 2020, and was appointed to the Council of State as one of the eminent persons selected by the President to provide counsel on matters of governance and national development.
Kwakye Ofosu indicated that the government had already commenced the legally prescribed process to fill the vacancy.
“The law is clear on what processes to undertake to replace her, and that is going on as we speak. So, in due course, a replacement will be announced for Justice Sophia Akuffo,” he said.
Justice Akuffo’s resignation marks the first high-profile exit from the current Council of State and comes at a time when the body continues to play an important advisory role in governance, public policy and constitutional matters.
Government officials say the process to appoint a successor is expected to be concluded in line with constitutional requirements in the coming weeks. Reports of her resignation came to bear yesterday, Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo resigns as Council of State member
