Govt sued over Kofi Boakye’s Police Council post

COP (Rtd) Kofi Boakye’s [M] appointment to the Police Council has been challenged

Henritta Nana Yaa Simpson, a gender activist and citizen of Ghana, has challenged what she claims is the unconstitutional appointment of COP (Rtd.) Nathan Kofi Boakye to the Police Council, citing the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction.

In a writ filed at the Supreme Court, Ms. Simpson argues that the position reserved for a representative of retired senior police officers under Article 201(f) of the 1992 Constitution was unlawfully filled without consulting the elected leadership of the association.

She contends that ACP (Rtd.) Ms. Florence Arthur—the first woman elected president of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO)—was the rightful nominee, according to a report by CitiNewsroom.com.

Reports indicate that the Presidency ignored Ms. Arthur’s nomination, which had been formally submitted by her predecessor, without any acknowledgment or explanation.

According to the lawsuit, this action represents a “naked usurpation” of the association’s rights and contravenes long-standing custom and tradition, whereby the president of the association automatically serves as its representative on the Police Council. Ms. Simpson also alleges that bias based on gender and rank may have influenced the decision to bypass ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur.

Among the several declarations sought in the suit—brought under Articles 2, 17(1), 130, 201, and 296 of the Constitution—is a clarification that “retired senior police officers,” as defined in the Constitution, include individuals who retired at or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police.

The suit further asks the court to declare that the President cannot unilaterally appoint a representative of the association to the Police Council without consultation.

Additionally, the plaintiff is requesting that the court remove Nathan Kofi Boakye from the Council and install ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur in his place.

Ms. Simpson’s suit argues that the Presidency’s actions violate constitutional principles of non-discrimination, institutional autonomy, and the duty to consult. The Attorney General and the Police Council are named as co-defendants, along with Mr. Kofi Boakye.

KA

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