Former Chief Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo has been sworn in as a member of Ghana’s 9th Council of State, fulfilling the constitutional provision that reserves a seat for a former Chief Justice.
Speaking in an interview with TV3’s Presidential Correspondent, Komla Klutse, she emphasized her commitment to offering honest and independent advice to President John Dramani Mahama.
When asked about her appointment, Justice Akuffo dismissed the notion that it was unexpected.
“In the Constitution, there’s a seat on the Council of State for a former Chief Justice, so many people actually expected me to be selected,” she explained.
She stressed that her role on the Council would not be about blindly endorsing the President’s decisions but rather providing constructive and truthful advice.
An advisor does not parrot. An advisor speaks with honesty and looks to the best interest not only of the person they are advising but of the function the person is serving,” she asserted.
On President Mahama’s directive to pay bondholders
Justice Akuffo was a vocal advocate for bondholders’ rights last year, frequently seen protesting delayed payments on government bonds. She welcomed President Mahama’s recent directive to the Finance Minister to ensure payments were made to affected individuals, including herself.
“The President’s action was in perfect order and in accordance with the law,” she said. “My stand was not about my pocket; it was about the principle that when the state makes a promise through a contract, it must honor it.”
When asked whether she foresaw the possibility of returning to the streets to demand her dues, she responded:
“I don’t have a crystal ball, but I’m not someone who bows to wrongness. Now that I’m in an advisory position, I trust that if we provide good advice, it will be taken.
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Her appointment is expected to bring a strong, independent voice to the Council of State, especially on legal and constitutional matters.
