The Ghana Chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has endorsed the nomination of Justice Sophia Akuffo as the next Chief Justice of Ghana.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on May 12 announced Justice Sophia Akuffo as the country’s new Chief Justice.
He made the announcement at the Flagstaff House, after which her name was presented to Parliament for approval. Ms. Akuffo, if approved by the legislative body, would take over from Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, who retires on June 8, 2017.
She will also be the second woman to serve in that position. In making the announcement, the President noted that, he has known the new CJ for nearly forty years, and trusts in her ability and integrity to deliver.
The membership of FIDA-Ghana didn’t only share in Nana Addo’s trust of the Justice Sophia Akuffo but also looks forward to working with her towards empowering women and the realization of gender equality.
The Federation in a congratulatory message signed by its president, Mrs. Afua Addotey said Justice Sophia Akuffo has a great track record in Ghana’s judiciary and it believes she is the right choice for Ghana’s next Chief Justice.
The federation said it is very sure she would carry out her obligations as “a Chief Justice with fairness, honesty and integrity, when approved by Parliament.”
“On behalf of the Ghana Chapter of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana) we extend congratulations to you on your recent nomination as the next Chief Justice of Ghana.
“We wish you success in the approval proceedings by Parliament to confirm you as the next Chief Justice of Ghana,” the statement concluded.
Sophia Akuffo is one of Ghana’s finest Justices. She had her Masters in Law (LLM) from the Havard University in the United States.
She has been a member of the Governing Committee of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute and the Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force.
In January 2006, she was elected one of the first judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights; initially for two years and was subsequently re-elected until 2014 and is at present serving as Vice-President of the Court.