I never thought I would become a judge - CJ thanks all four presidents

An "extremely humbled" Justice Sophia Akuffo has expressed profuse gratitude to all four of Ghana's presidents beginning with the man who first appointed her to the bench.

At a swearing-in ceremony, the new Chief Justice praised the first president of the Fourth Republic, Jerry John Rawlings for first nominating her to the Supreme Court in 1995.

She said the nomination came "at a time when I had not even conceived or envisaged a life on the bench".

More than 22 years as a Supreme Court judge, President Akufo-Addo has handed her the fourth most powerful job in the country, nominating her on 11 May 2017 as the country's 13th Chief Justice.

"I am very grateful to you Mr. President" she said in a short speech that also acknowledged the Council of State and Parliament for the roles they played during the appointment process.

After President Rawlings pushed Sophia Akuffo to public service and the limelight, President John Agyekum Kufour catapulted her to international public service after she was nominated to join a panel of judges at the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights in January 2006.

In spreading her acknowledgement, Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo thanked President Kufuor for the third leap in her public career.

Her fourth successive jump came in 2014 after President Mahama supported her nomination as vice- president of the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights in 2014 and later as President of the Court.

She thanked former President John Mahama for her support which she said, helped to make her tenure as President of the court successful.

As Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo has reached her fifth leap in public service within the judiciary in Ghana.

Three of the presidents who played a role in her illustrious rise on the bench were present at the swearing-in, except the immediate past president, John Mahama who is out of the country.

The swearing-in was heavily attended by leading personalities and power blocs in the country. Ag. Chief Justice William Atuguba led several other Supreme Court judges to the swearing in. Several 2016 flagbearers and high-profile politicians also looked on as Sophia Akuffo swore three oaths - Oath of Secrecy, Judicial Oath and Oath of Allegiance.

If she completes this job in less than two years time when she retires, Sophia Akuffo could be in line for a sixth role in public service with a spot on the Council of State which is reserved for a retired Chief Justice.

She reiterated her passion for integrity and said she will strive to demonstrate this passion in her new role.

After five hours of vetting at Parliament's Appointments Committee, Sophia Akuffo told a packed audience at the swearing-in at the State House Monday, she has gained an understanding of what Ghanaians want to see her address within the judiciary.

She listed conditions of service within the judiciary, the ugly looking courts across the country and the fight against corruption.

Justice Sophia Akuffo ended her speech, restating her favourite Bible scripture which she told MPs during her vetting last Friday.

"I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted" Job 42:2

About Sophia Akuffo

Sophia Akuffo 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 elected for two years, she was subsequently re-elected until 2014 and is at present serving as Vice-President of the Court.

She has written The Application of Information & Communication Technology in the Judicial Process – the Ghanaian Experience, a presentation to the African Judicial Network Ghana (2002).

If confirmed by parliament Justice Sophia Akuffo will be the fifth Chief Justice under the fourth republic after; Isaac Kobina Abban who served between 1995 to 2001.

Edward Kwame Wiredu also served between 2001 and 2003 while George Kingley Acquah served from 2003 to 2007 before Georgina Theodora Wood from 2007 to 2017.

Justice Akuffo will also be the 13th Chief Justice in the history of the Republic of Ghana.