Felix Kwaky Ofosu, the Minister of State responsible for Presidential Spokesperson and Government Communications, stated that procedures were in place to replace Justice Sophia Akuffo, who left her post as a member of the Council of State in September 2025.
At a news conference at the Presidency on Monday [June 15, 2026], Mr. Kwakye Ofosu confirmed media rumors of the resignation and stated that President John Mahama has subsequently accepted it.
The procedures to replace her were in progress “as we speak, and therefore in due course, a replacement will be announced for Justice Sophia Akuffo.”
In September 2025, former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo resigned from her position on the Council of State.
Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo explains why she should be on
The Minister of State responsible for Government Communications and serving as the Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwaky Ofosu, stated that efforts are currently in progress to identify a replacement for Justice Sophia Akuffo, who left her role as a member of the Council of State in September 2025.
At a press briefing held at the Presidency on Monday, June 15, 2026, Mr.
Kwakye Ofosu confirmed media reports regarding her resignation.He noted that President John Mahama had since accepted her resignation.
He added that the procedures for appointing her replacement are already in motion, “as we speak,” and that a new appointment will be made in due time for Justice Sophia Akuffo.
Justice Sophia Akuffo resigned from her position as a member of the Council of State in September 2025.
Mr.
Kwakye Ofosu stated at the Monday press briefing, “I can confirm that 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.”
He explained that the reason for her resignation was not disclosed.
Upon receiving the letter, the President was required to accept the resignation.However, at the request of the Council of State, the President was asked to delay the acceptance, as they wanted to speak with Justice Akuffo to understand if there were any unresolved grievances that influenced her decision, and whether they could be addressed.
Mr.
Kwakye Ofosu added, “They [the Council of State] got back and said they had engaged with her 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.”
The law outlines the procedures for replacing her, and so in due course, a replacement will be announced for Justice Sophia Akuffo.
Justice Sophia Akuffo was a member of the Council of State in her capacity as a former Chief Justice.
She held the position of Chief Justice from 2017 to 2020 and was one of the 31 members of the current Council of State, an advisory body chaired by former Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho.
Earlier in the year, she clarified that she was not representing the Judiciary on the Council of State, but was serving in her own right as a former Chief Justice, in accordance with the 1992 Constitution, which stipulates that a former Chief Justice should be a member of the Council.
Her departure followed her dissenting stance during a Council of State meeting in April 2025, when the body voted on whether a prima facie case had been established against a petition seeking the removal of the then Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.
She later appeared before the Article 146 committee at the request of the then–suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo to testify in her defence.
In an interview in September 2025, Justice Sophia Akuffo publicly criticized the proceedings, arguing that Justice Torkornoo had not received a fair hearing.
She described the process as a “treason trial” and warned that it had weakened the judiciary.
She also contended that the allegations against Torkornoo lacked the severity needed to justify removing the head of a justice institution.
The Council of State is a constitutional body tasked with advising the President on matters of national importance.
