Accra, May 24, GNA – Justice Sophia Abena Boafoa Akuffo, a former Chief Justice of Ghana, has been enstooled as the Mmrahene of the Akuapem Traditional Area at a colourful traditional ceremony held at the palace of the Okuapehene at Akropong-Akuapem in the Eastern Region.
The enstoolment, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday during the Awukudae festivities of Okuapemman, was witnessed by traditional authorities, royal family heads, legal practitioners, politicians, clergy, and scores of residents across Akuapem.
The former Chief Justice was installed under the stool name Nana Abena Boafoa Akuffo, becoming the substantive Mmrahene, a traditional title regarded as the “Legal Chief” or principal legal adviser within the traditional governance structure of Akuapemman.
The title recognises her distinguished career in law and jurisprudence, spanning decades of service to Ghana and the international judicial community.
The ceremony commenced at the Akuffo Fi, the ancestral home of the descendants of the late Okuapehene Nana Kwasi Akuffo I, where customary rites and introductions were performed before a procession moved to the Okuapehene’s palace for the public durbar and formal installation rites.
Customary elders explained that the enstoolment process involved consultation among the royal family heads, the Abrewatia and Abusuapayin, followed by endorsement by divisional chiefs and the Akuapem Traditional Council before the formal presentation to the Okuapehene for installation.
As part of the rites, Justice Akuffo swore the traditional oath of allegiance, was adorned in traditional regalia, had a sheep slaughtered to mark acceptance, and was symbolically introduced to the chiefs and people as the new Mmrahene of Okuapemman.
The Mmrahene is expected to provide counsel on customary and legal matters affecting the traditional area, promote peace and mediation, and support the preservation of Akuapem customs and institutions.
Traditional leaders at the ceremony said her vast judicial experience and international exposure would strengthen traditional governance and dispute resolution within the area.
The installation also highlighted the historic connection between the Akuffo royal lineage and the Akuapem stool.
Justice Sophia Akuffo hails from the renowned Akuffo family of Akropong-Akuapem, descendants of Okuapehene Nana Kwasi Akuffo I.
She was born at Akropong-Akuapem on 20th December 1949 and belongs to one of the prominent royal and political families in Ghana.
She is the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and a member of the wider Akuffo family that produced former President Edward Akufo-Addo and former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Justice Akuffo served as Ghana’s 13th Chief Justice from June 2017 until her retirement in December 2019 after more than two decades on the Supreme Court bench. She also served as President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and currently serves as a member of the Council of State.
Ahead of the installation, some objections had emerged from sections of the traditional area, however, the Okuapem Traditional Council maintained that all customary processes required for the enstoolment had been duly completed.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Christiana Afua Nyarko
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