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Constitution’s impeachment provisions for Chief Justice are ‘inadequate’, says Sophia Akuffo
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Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called into question the adequacy of constitutional provisions for the impeachment of the Chief Justice.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday, January 7, she offered a nuanced critique of the process while responding to recent calls by legal scholar Professor Kweku Asare for the removal of the Chief Justice.
She emphasized the importance of due process and highlighted gaps in the current framework, noting that impeachment is a serious and complex procedure that must be anchored in robust constitutional guidelines.
“Impeachment Is Not Simple Removal”
When asked about Professor Asare’s demand for the Chief Justice’s removal in the waning days of President Akufo-Addo’s tenure, Madam Akuffo was direct.
“What has she done? Has she committed any offence of misconduct? Well, that needs to be proven. You don’t just get up and impeach,” she stated.
Clarifying the distinction between “removal” and “impeachment,” Sophia Akuffo noted that the latter involves a detailed constitutional process.
“Let’s not even use the word ‘removal,’ because before you reach removal, you’re going to go through an impeachment process, which must follow the dictates of the Constitution,” she explained.
“Constitutional Provisions Are Inadequate”
Akuffo expressed concern that Ghana’s Constitution falls short of providing a robust framework for impeaching a Chief Justice or other high-ranking officials.
“Personally, I don’t think the provisions of the Constitution are adequate for the purpose of impeachment of anybody,” she remarked.
She elaborated on the procedural shortcomings, pointing out that the current arrangement places significant power in the hands of the President and the Council of State.
“In the current arrangement, you petition the President, and in the case of the Chief Justice, the matter is referred to the Council of State, which has to go through certain processes,” she said.
The Role of Due Process
Akuffo underscored the importance of adhering to due process in impeachment cases.
“It’s not just a question of, ‘I want to remove this person,’ and then he goes to the Council of State, and then the Council of State comes back and says, ‘Yeah, we agree with you. Go ahead and do it.’ There has to be due process,” she emphasized.
According to Akuffo, due process involves more than simply filing a petition.
“The petition must set out some reason. That’s part of what due process is all about,” she explained, adding that even in lower courts, there are structured processes that must be followed.
Calls for Constitutional Reform
While Akuffo admitted she had not followed the specifics of Professor Asare’s call, she expressed scepticism about whether sufficient justification had been provided.
“I’m yet to know what the justifications are that the petitioner has even for asking the removal of the Chief Justice. It’s not that easy, even under the Constitution as it is now,” she stated.
MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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The Ministry of Education (MOE) has warned students, parents and guardians against fake and digitally manipulated Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) placement slips being circulated on social media.
The MOE said it had detected attempts by some unscrupulous individuals to digitally alter placement slips and circulate them online with claims that students’ original school placements had been changed by the Ministry.
A statement signed by Mr Hashmin Mohammed, the Press Secretary to the Minister of Education issued to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, described the claims as “false and misleading.”
It said preliminary internal verification had established that some of the placement slips being circulated did not correspond with records generated from the official CSSPS platform.
The statement noted that discrepancies had been identified in the barcodes and QR codes appearing on some of the purported placement slips.
“The codes did not match the placement information displayed on the documents being circulated as evidence of alleged changes,” it added.
The Ministry’s system records and audit logs did not support the claims being made by individuals circulating the materials, the statement said.
“The evidence available to the Ministry indicates that the affected documents have been digitally manipulated or otherwise altered to create the impression that students’ placements have been changed.”
It described the alleged manipulation as a serious attempt to undermine public confidence in the CSSPS process and create confusion and anxiety among students, parents and guardians.
The statement indicated that the Ministry had referred the matter to the Cyber Security Authority and other relevant security agencies for further investigation and appropriate action. It urged the public to exercise caution and avoid sharing unverified placement slips or claims about placement changes on social media.
Parents, guardians and students have also been advised to rely only on placement information obtained through official CSSPS channels.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the 2026 CSSPS exercise was conducted with transparency, fairness, integrity and accountability, adding that legitimate concerns regarding placement would be investigated through the appropriate channels.
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