Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has made it clear that her role as a newly appointed member of the Council of State will be one of independent counsel, not blind allegiance to President John Mahama.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, shortly after being sworn in by the president, Ms Akuffo emphasised that she would not be a mere mouthpiece for the government.
“I am there in my own right simply as a former Chief Justice. I am not even there representing the Judicial Service,” she asserted, making it clear that her appointment was based on her individual qualifications and not any institutional affiliation.
Ms Akuffo further stressed the importance of advisory integrity within the Council of State, which serves as a consultative body to the president.
“The Council of State is a body that is supposed to be advising the president. I am not going to be singing his master’s voice, so to speak. An adviser does not parrot,” she stated firmly.
She highlighted that her primary responsibility would be to offer honest, objective counsel that serves the best interests of not just the president but the nation as a whole.
“An adviser speaks with honesty. An adviser looks to the best interest not only of the person they are advising but of the function the person is serving,” she explained.
Ms Akuffo’s comments suggest she intends to be a forthright and principled member of the Council, reinforcing the constitutional role of the advisory body as one that provides critical and unbiased guidance to the presidency.
