Sophia Akuffo, former Chief Justice and now a member of the Council of State, has defended her right to be part of the advisory body, emphasising her qualifications and independence.

The former Chief Justice is part of 31 members of the Council of State who have Edward Doe Adjaho as their chairman.

Speaking to journalists after their swearing in by the President at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday February 18, Akuffo noted that “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.”

She stressed the advisory role of the Council of State and her commitment to providing honest and unbiased advice.

“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,” she explained.