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Saturday, 31 October 2026
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Saturday, 31 October 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Sophia Akuffo

Also known as: Justice Sophia Akuffo · Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo · Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo · Ms. Akuffo · Madam Sophia Akuffo · former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo · Madam Akuffo · Justice Akuffo · Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo · Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo · Sophia A. B. Akuffo · former Chief Justice Sophia A. B. Akuffo · former Chief Justice Akuffo · retired Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo

Former Chief Justice who has called for constitutional reforms on presidential power limits, Supreme Court case access, and local decision-making; resigned from Council of State in September 2025.

2026-05-092026-10-31
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News reports

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In coverage

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  1. October 2026

  2. The Chronicle

    … Justice Sophia Akuffo submitted her resignation in September 2025, and the President formally accepted it in June 2026. …

    Feature: Are We Practising Democracy Or Kakistocracy?

  3. Joy Online

    … The removals followed an investigation initiated through a committee constituted under the authority of the then Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, after allegations of misconduct were raised against the Commission’s leadership. …

    Power, politics and the battle for electoral credibility: Is Ghana’s electoral commission truly independent?

  4. Joy Online

    Former Chief Justice and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Sophia Akuffo, has called for constitutional reforms that give citizens a stronger and more meaningful role in decisions affecting their communities. …

    Constitutional reforms must give citizens greater say in local decisions – Sophia Akuffo
  5. September 2026

  6. Joy Online

    … Former Chief Justice and IEA Fellow, Justice Sophia Akuffo, said there was no compelling evidence to justify extending the current term. …

    Four years enough for any government to deliver – IEA rejects five-year term

  7. Joy Online

    … At the centre of the case is the resignation of retired Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, who occupied an ex-officio position on the Council of State under Article 89(2) of the Constitution. …

    Private citizen sues Mahama over failure to replace Sophia Akuffo on Council of State

  8. Joy Online

    … Staff have no offices and compete with litigants inside the courtroom, even eating their meals there. “Years ago, former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo came to town and threatened to shut the court down due to its state, yet nothing was done while the population grew,” Siddique Ubei …

    Lawyers, prosecutors fume over abandoned 26-year-old Upper West High court project

  9. Joy Online

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for stronger constitutional safeguards to prevent excessive concentration of power in the hands of the President. …

    ‘Presidents can’t have unfettered powers’ – Sophia Akuffo

  10. Joy Online

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for stricter limits on the types of cases that can proceed to the Supreme Court, arguing that unnecessary interlocutory appeals are contributing to delays in Ghana’s justice system. …

    Unnecessary appeals delaying justice – Sophia Akuffo calls for tighter Supreme Court limits
  11. August 2026

  12. Joy Online

    … Madam Sophia Akuffo, Distinguished Fellow at the IEA and chairperson of the review, said the indicators in the assessment showed that Ghana had made progress towards macroeconomic stability, particularly in inflation, fiscal performance, interest rates, reserves and public debt. …

    IEA calls for jobs-focused economic transformation
  13. July 2026

  14. The Chronicle

    … POS Foundation highlighted its own contribution to the reform process, explaining that after consultations with the then Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, it was tasked with coordinating the preparation of the initial draft legislation. …

    POS Foundation hails passage of Community Service Bill as major Criminal Justice Reform
Politics

Ghana's two-party system threatens democracy through institutional capture

The News

The Chronicle argues that Ghana's Fourth Republic has become dominated by contest between NDC and NPP, each treating the other as an enemy to be destroyed rather than a rival to be defeated at the polls. The result is a politics of capture, insult and hypocrisy that threatens the trust on which democracy rests, with every institution becoming a prize and every appointment a weapon.

20 October 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 20 October

  1. Ghana's two-party system threatens democracy through institutional capture

    The Chronicle argues that Ghana's Fourth Republic has become dominated by contest between NDC and NPP, each treating the other as an enemy to be destroyed rather than a rival to be defeated at the polls. The result is a politics of capture, insult and hypocrisy that threatens the trust on which democracy rests, with every institution becoming a prize and every appointment a weapon.

    20 October 2026 · The Chronicle →

Wednesday 14 October

  1. Ghana's electoral commission independence questioned amid commissioner appointments

    A Joy Online editorial examines whether Ghana's Electoral Commission remains truly independent after President John Dramani Mahama appointed two Deputy Electoral Commissioners, a move that has reignited debate about the institution's credibility and impartiality. The piece questions whether the New Patriotic Party's opposition stems from legitimate institutional concerns or partisan calculations, and calls for examination of the constitutional framework and political history shaping perceptions of the EC's neutrality.

    14 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 6 October

  1. Sophia Akuffo calls for constitutional reforms on local decision-making

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for constitutional reforms that give citizens greater and more meaningful influence over decisions affecting their communities, arguing that the current system concentrates decision-making power among a small group and leaves many citizens, particularly outside major urban centres, with limited influence over development priorities.

    6 October 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 23 September

  1. IEA rejects proposal to extend presidential and parliamentary terms

    The Institute of Economic Affairs has rejected a proposal to extend Ghana's presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years, arguing that four years provides sufficient time for governments to deliver their programmes if they prepare adequately before taking office. The Prempeh Committee recommended the extension, which the government has accepted, but the IEA maintains that political parties should be ready to implement policies immediately upon assuming office.

    23 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 8 September

  1. Citizen sues Mahama to replace Akuffo on Council of State

    A private citizen has filed a suit at the Supreme Court seeking to compel President Mahama to appoint a former Chief Justice to the Council of State, following the resignation of retired Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo from her ex-officio position. The suit argues that the Constitution requires the President to fill the vacancy and requests the court declare any failure to do so unconstitutional.

    8 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 5 September

  1. Upper West High Court construction stalled after 26 years

    Lawyers and prosecutors in the Upper West Region have expressed strong displeasure over the abandoned construction of a regional High Court complex that has been stalled for approximately 20 years. Despite repeated assurances from national delegations, the contractor has abandoned the three-storey court structure, leaving the region without a purpose-built modern courtroom and forcing legal practitioners to work from deteriorating makeshift buildings.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 3 September

  1. Former Chief Justice calls for limits on presidential power

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for stronger constitutional safeguards to prevent excessive concentration of power in the hands of the President, arguing that while presidents must have authority to govern, those powers should be exercised within clearly defined constitutional limits. She said Ghana's democratic system requires more effective checks and balances and that addressing weaknesses in the 1992 Constitution is necessary to build a more sustainable democratic system.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Akuffo urges stricter limits on Supreme Court case access

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for tighter restrictions on cases proceeding to the Supreme Court, arguing that unnecessary interlocutory appeals on matters still pending in the High Court are adding to the apex court's workload and delaying justice. She advocated that more cases should be resolved at the Court of Appeal level unless they raise new legal issues or significant constitutional matters.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 28 August

  1. IEA urges Ghana to convert macro stability into jobs

    The Institute of Economic Affairs has called on Government to use improved macroeconomic indicators—including 6.4 per cent GDP growth, inflation down to 5.7 per cent, and declining debt—to drive job creation, productivity, and industrialisation through transformational budgeting and growth-enhancing infrastructure.

    28 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 16 July

  1. Parliament passes Community Service Bill for criminal justice reform

    The POS Foundation has welcomed Parliament's passage of the Community Service Bill, 2026, which will allow courts to impose community service orders instead of custodial sentences for eligible offenders convicted of offences punishable by prison terms of less than three years. The Foundation says the law will reduce prison overcrowding, facilitate offender rehabilitation and reintegration, and strengthen restorative justice.

    16 July 2026 · The Chronicle →

Friday 26 June

  1. Council of State resignations lack public transparency and disclosure

    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.

    26 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Akuffo's Council of State resignation sat unconfirmed for nine months

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo resigned from Ghana's Council of State in September 2025, but President Mahama did not confirm acceptance until June 2026, raising constitutional questions about the delay. Her resignation followed an August 2025 Council vote on removing Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, in which Akuffo abstained as the sole dissenting voice.

    23 June 2026 · Daily Guide →

Monday 22 June

  1. Council of State resignation silence raises accountability questions

    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.

    22 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 20 June

  1. Ansa-Asare says Council of State has become "100% partisan"

    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.

    20 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Akuffo's Council of State appointment breached constitution—legal expert

    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.

    20 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 17 June

  1. Justice Sophia Akuffo's Council resignation delayed public disclosure

    An opinion piece argues that the resignation of Justice Sophia Akuffo from the Council of State, who reportedly withdrew from activities since September 2024 following opposition to Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo's dismissal, should have been disclosed to Ghanaians promptly rather than kept confidential.

    17 June 2026 · Daily Guide →

Tuesday 16 June

  1. EC Deputy Chair Bossman Asare to resign effective July 2026

    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.

    16 June 2026 · Daily Guide →

  2. Kwakye Ofosu denies Akuffo resigned over Torkornoo's removal

    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.

    16 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 15 June

  1. Government confirms processes underway to replace Sophia Akuffo

    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.

    15 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Mahama accepts Akuffo's Council of State resignation

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has resigned from the Council of State after President Mahama accepted her letter of resignation submitted in September 2025. A replacement is being appointed in accordance with the Constitution.

    15 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 14 June

  1. Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo resigns from Council of State

    Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has resigned from Ghana's Council of State, having submitted her resignation last year and ceased attending meetings since then. Her resignation follows a period in which she became central to a judicial crisis involving then Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, abstaining on a Council vote and later testifying in Torkornoo's defence.

    14 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Okuapehemaa warns Akuffo against enstoolment ceremony

    The Office of the Okuapehemaa has cautioned former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo against an announced enstoolment as Mmrahene of Akuapem Traditional Area, citing unresolved legal and customary disputes surrounding the legitimacy of the chief presiding over the ceremony.

    20 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Supreme Court denies stay of trial for former NSA deputy director

    The Supreme Court has dismissed an application to halt the High Court trial of Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, who faces charges of causing financial loss of more than GH¢38 million to the state. The court ruled that the accused's constitutional challenge to a practice direction does not justify suspending the trial.

    19 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 15 May

  1. IEA urges Ghana to reject Tarkwa Mine lease renewal

    The Institute of Economic Affairs has called on government to reject Gold Fields Ghana's request to extend its mining lease for the Tarkwa Mine, arguing that Ghana should take strategic control of the asset when the current lease expires in April 2027. The IEA contends that Ghana now has the capacity to manage the mine in its national interest and that renewing the lease would undermine the country's long-term economic and strategic goals.

    15 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

  2. IEA and Chamber of Mines diverge on Tarkwa gold mine lease

    The Institute of Economic Affairs has called on the government to reject Gold Fields' application for a 20-year lease extension of the Tarkwa Mine, arguing Ghana should reclaim ownership of the asset. The Ghana Chamber of Mines, however, warned that public pressure over the renewal risks damaging legal certainty and Ghana's reputation as a mining investment destination.

    15 May 2026 · Business & Financial Times →

Wednesday 13 May

  1. IEA opposes Gold Fields Tarkwa lease renewal, urges Ghanaian control

    The Institute of Economic Affairs has opposed the renewal of Gold Fields' mining lease for Tarkwa, which expires in 2027, arguing that the decision would be harmful to Ghana's long-term interests and calling instead for a framework ensuring greater Ghanaian ownership. Gold Fields has applied for a 20-year extension and notes its Ghana operations account for about 25 per cent of the company's global gold output.

    13 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 12 May

  1. Wa Court Complex remains unfinished after 26 years of construction

    Construction of the Wa Court Complex, begun 26 years ago to relieve overcrowding in Upper West's courts, remains incomplete despite the contractor's claim of 90% completion. Members of Parliament's Judiciary Committee inspected the site and found the work unsatisfactory, vowing to summon the contractor Project Seven Limited to appear before Parliament.

    12 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 10 May

  1. Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo installed Akuapem Mmrahene

    Sophia Akuffo, a former Chief Justice and former President of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, will be installed as Mmrahene of the Akuapem Traditional Area on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during the Awukudae celebration at the palace of the Okuapehene in Akropong-Akuapem.

    10 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 9 May

  1. EOCO boss rejects claims lawyers arrested while representing clients

    The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Raymond Archer, has dismissed assertions that two lawyers from Minka-Premo & Co. were arrested while representing their clients in PDS investigations. He stated that the lawyers had earlier been invited by investigators as suspects and that the PDS investigation is being jointly conducted by EOCO and the BNI, triggered by a petition from the Financial Intelligence Centre.

    9 May 2026 · The Chronicle →

Sophia Akuffo — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute