Ghana’s Interest My Priority; Sophia Akufo on Council Of State Membership

Former Chief Justice Sophia Akufo says her mandate as a member of the Council of State will be hinged on and driven by the interest of the country and not the President.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the swearing-in of the 31-member Council on February 18 at the Jubilee House, she stated that she is unwilling to be a puppet to the head of state and government.

“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. 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.”

Meanwhile, she defended her appointment to the Council as based on merit.

“I am a former Chief Justice. Am I not? Do I or do I not qualify?… I am there in my own right simply as a former Chief Justice. I am not even there representing the Judicial Service.”

The Council is made up of:
Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho – Former Speaker of Parliament (Volta Region) – CHAIRMAN of the Council of State

Mr. Cletus Avoka – Former MP for Zebilla Constituency (Upper East Region)

Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu – Former Attorney General (Ashanti Region)

Justice Vida Amankwanua Akoto-Bamfo (JSC, Retired) – Former Justice of the Supreme Court (Greater Accra Region)

Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah – Former Minister of Health (Central Region)

Mrs. Molly Anim Addo – Former Ambassador (Greater Accra Region)

Daasebre Boamah Darko – Chief of Akyem Kukuratumi (Eastern Region)

Osabarima Kwesi Attah II – Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area (Central Region)

Mankpanwura Jakpa Achor-Ade Borenyi I – Paramount Chief of the Mankpan Traditional Area (Savannah Region)

Cynthia Komley Adjetey – (Greater Accra Region)

Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II – Queen Mother of Ayima Traditional Area (Bono Region)

Justice Sophia Akuffo (JSC, Retired) – Former Chief Justice (Eastern Region)

Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan – Former Inspector-General of Police (Upper West Region)

Air Marshal Michael Samson-Oje (Retired) – Former Chief of Defence Staff (Savannah Region)

Ogyeahohor Yaw Gyebi II – President of the National House of Chiefs (Western North Region)