Council of State — Ghana's constitutional advisory body that reviews appointments and resignations, recently facing scrutiny over vacancies and member composition.
… Yaw Bimpeh, the Ashanti Regional Representative on the Council of State, has donated food items and assorted drinks to inmates at the Dwenase Rehabilitation Centre and the Apre Cherub Children’s Home to support their upkeep. …
… Alexander Mould, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA); other Ministers of State; and members of the Council of State. …
… The report further revealed that Dr Kwamigah-Atokple, the Chief Executive Officer of Sesi-Edem Company Limited and the Volta Region representative on the Council of State, was invited by investigators and submitted a statement, along with contractual documents. …
… One major concern is the perception of political influence in the appointment of judges, as the process involves presidential nomination in consultation with the Council of State and approval by Parliament. …
… calls for wider public engagement The Council of State has expressed strong commendation for the Bank of Ghana’s stewardship of the economy, following a wide-ranging briefing delivered by Governor, Dr. …
… The company, owned by Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, a member of the Council of State, had, through its legal counsel, Knightscild Chambers, petitioned the Board on 9 April 2026. …
Ghana's Supreme Court issued an 84-page judgment affirming the constitutionality of the procedure used to remove former Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, dismissing consolidated lawsuits that challenged the President's actions and the Council of State's role. The decision clarified the removal process, upheld the self-executing nature of Article 146, and set a precedent for future constitutional disputes over judicial independence and executive authority.
Why it matters
Supreme Court's landmark 84-page judgment upholding the constitutionality of Chief Justice Torkornoo's removal resolves a critical constitutional dispute with implications for judicial independence and executive authority.
Ghana's Supreme Court issued an 84-page judgment affirming the constitutionality of the procedure used to remove former Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, dismissing consolidated lawsuits that challenged the President's actions and the Council of State's role. The decision clarified the removal process, upheld the self-executing nature of Article 146, and set a precedent for future constitutional disputes over judicial independence and executive authority.
DCOP Ayamga Akolgo has disclosed that he was one of the petitioners seeking the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, citing her abuse of judicial office, incompetence, and lack of judicial temperament. He states the President found merit in his petition and took action following consultation with the Council of State.
Residents of Samreboi in the Western Region have begun returning to their homes as floodwaters that displaced thousands and affected nearly 2,500 people recede, though NADMO has cautioned against rushing back until comprehensive safety assessments are completed.
Traders at Takoradi's New Market have declared an indefinite toll boycott from July 1 and threatened to move to the uncompleted Takoradi Market Circle by end-July if authorities do not complete the long-delayed project, citing five years of waiting in a temporary facility that was meant to be used for only two years.
An opinion piece argues that former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo's resignation from Ghana's Council of State was not publicly disclosed until media reports emerged months later, raising concerns about democratic accountability and whether citizens should be informed when vacancies arise in this constitutional advisory body.
An opinion piece argues that the quiet resignation of former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo from Ghana's Council of State, announced only months later through media reports, represents a democratic accountability gap: while Council appointments are publicly announced, resignations have been treated as private matters, preventing citizens from knowing whether the constitutional body operates with vacancies or delayed replacements.
Lawyer Kofi Bentil described former Chief Justice Sophia Akufo as one of Ghana's most principled judicial figures, arguing she demonstrated that political appointees can maintain independence and impartiality, noting her willingness to challenge government actions on principle despite being appointed by an NPP administration.
Former Director of the Ghana School of Law Kwaku Ansa-Asare has criticised the Council of State's composition as overwhelmingly partisan, arguing that members cannot freely express independent opinions and suggesting this may have contributed to recent high-profile resignations, including former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo's departure.
Legal academic Kwaku Ansa-Asare has argued that former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo's appointment to the Council of State was constitutionally flawed because it bypassed a more senior and constitutionally appropriate retired Chief Justice. He also criticized the government for delaying the public announcement of Akuffo's resignation until after it leaked to media.
Joy Online reports that the upcoming episode of Prime Insight will examine multiple resignations and leadership vacancies at the Electoral Commission and Council of State, and discuss the legal saga involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, including claims about his reported US residency and potential implications for his criminal trial in Ghana.
Dr. Bossman Eric Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission in charge of Corporate Services, has announced his resignation effective July 31, 2026, citing his desire to return to academia at the University of Ghana. His departure comes as another Deputy Chairperson, Samuel Tettey, has also retired, creating two vacancies at the Electoral Commission.
A civil society platform has called on President John Dramani Mahama's government to urgently publish a clear roadmap with timelines for implementing recommendations from the Constitution Review Committee report. The group plans to meet with the President, parliamentary leaders, and political party heads to discuss the reform agenda, noting that while a summary received public support, the full report remains unpublished more than four months after submission to the President.
The Minister of State for Government Communications rejected claims that former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo stepped down from the Council of State in protest against the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, stating the government received no such communication and Akuffo's resignation letter contained no reference to Torkornoo's removal.
Dr Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, has formally notified the President of his intention to resign effective July 31, 2026, to return to academia and continue his career at the University of Ghana.
The Deputy Commissioner of the Electoral Commission in charge of Corporate Services, Samuel Tettey, has retired, and the government is proceeding with his replacement through constitutional procedures. A nominee has been submitted to the Council of State for consideration.
The government has confirmed that processes are underway to replace former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo on the Council of State following her resignation from the advisory body, which she submitted in September last year without stating her reasons.
The Steering Committee of the Citizens' Platform on Constitutional Reform has urged President John Mahama and the Government to formally present a clear roadmap with defined timelines for the review of Ghana's 1992 Constitution. The Platform intends to request consultations with key national stakeholders, including the President and parliamentary leadership, to discuss the next phase of the reform process, more than four months after the Constitution Review Committee submitted its full report to the President in January 2026.
The African Women Lawyers Association-Ghana held a high-level consultative forum in Accra with more than 100 participants including judges, legal practitioners, and policymakers to set priorities and refine the agenda for an upcoming National Family Law and Justice Conference, covering topics such as marriage, domestic violence, child custody, inheritance, and property rights.
The Ghana Police Service held a pre-burial service at the State House on June 6, 2026, to pay tribute to the late Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, former Inspector General of Police. A clergyman highlighted Quaye's life as an example of discipline, integrity, and hard work, and urged Ghanaians to remain resilient and complete their callings.
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on May 29, shifting focus to whether President Mahama will assent to it. Though he indicated during campaigning that he would sign such a bill, his position has become more cautious since taking office; he has suggested alternative approaches like moral education, preferred a government-sponsored bill, and raised concerns about procedural irregularities in the bill's passage.
Minister Samuel Nartey George, a principal sponsor of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, has opposed Speaker Alban Bagbin's request for Parliament to reconsider the legislation after its passage on May 29, 2026, arguing that Parliament's Standing Orders do not permit reopening debate on a bill after third reading.
Nana Yaw Basoa, immediate past Ahafo Regional Representative of the Council of State, has urged stakeholders including government agencies, religious organisations, and corporate bodies to prioritise the safety and well-being of vulnerable groups, particularly orphans. He made the remarks while donating food items and supplies to two local orphanages in the Tano North Municipality as part of his 40th marriage anniversary activities.
The Central Regional Member of the Council of State has appealed to traditional leaders to support government initiatives and make land available for developmental projects. Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for a 24-Hour Economy Market in Twifo Praso, he cited the Twifo Traditional Area's prompt release of land as a model for other communities to follow.
Ghana's Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has disowned a viral social media post criticizing the country's anti-gay bill as making people's existence a crime, claiming his account was compromised. However, Joy Online notes that Afenyo-Markin has made similar statements on record in a TV3 interview and in Parliament, including saying he does not think people should go to jail for their sexual orientation.
Speaker Alban Bagbin expressed displeasure with Parliament for passing the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values (Anti-LGBTQ+) bill into law during his absence, stating he would enforce strict discipline and calling on the House to take its business more seriously given its impact on constituents.
Speaker Alban Bagbin has directed Parliament to reconsider the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, citing a mismatch between the committee report's indication of bipartisan support and what was actually reflected during floor proceedings.
Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor defended President Mahama's comments on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, explaining that the President's reference to further scrutiny after the bill reaches his desk reflects standard constitutional and parliamentary procedures, not a delay tactic. According to Dafeamekpor, post-passage scrutiny and drafting—required under Parliament's Standing Orders—ensures approved amendments are properly incorporated into the final document.
President Mahama said the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, passed by Parliament on May 29, will undergo further legal and constitutional scrutiny in the Presidency before he can assent to it. He noted procedural issues—including questions about quorum and parliamentary process—mean the bill still has several stages to navigate.