Akyem Oda MP Links Sophia Akuffo’s Resignation to EOCO Probe of Council of State Member

Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has questioned the circumstances behind former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo’s resignation from the Council of State, suggesting it may be tied to an ongoing EOCO investigation involving another Council member.

In a Facebook post reacting to reports of Justice Akuffo’s exit, the former Deputy Health Minister asked: “So why won’t she resign from a Council of State whose member is being pursued by EOCO?” The comment is widely seen as referencing Dr. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, the Volta Regional representative on the Council, who is under investigation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office.

Justice Akuffo, Chief Justice from 2017 to 2020, is reported to have stepped down from the presidential advisory body. Sources say she has not attended Council meetings since submitting her resignation, including the most recent sitting.

Neither Akuffo nor the Presidency has given reasons for her decision, sparking speculation. Her resignation comes after she publicly criticized the process that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on September 1, 2025.

At the time, Akuffo described the proceedings as resembling a “treason trial” and warned they could erode public confidence in the judiciary. She argued that the allegations against Justice Torkornoo did not meet the threshold for removing Ghana’s top judicial officer. Her comments drew both support and backlash from lawyers, political commentators, and civil society groups.

While some have suggested Akuffo resigned in protest over Torkornoo’s removal, Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu has rejected that claim.