A constitutional challenge has been filed at Ghana’s Supreme Court by businesswoman and activist Henrietta Nana Yaa Simpson, contesting the appointment of COP (Rtd.) Nathan Kofi Boakye to the Ghana Police Council. Simpson argues that the appointment violates Article 201(f) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that the representative of retired senior police officers must be nominated by their association. She claims that the President bypassed this process and unilaterally appointed Boakye, ignoring the rightful nominee, ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur—the first female president of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO).
According to Simpson, the association had already submitted Arthur’s nomination months prior to the Council’s inauguration, following long-standing tradition where the elected president of NARPO automatically assumes the Council seat. The lawsuit describes the President’s action as a “naked usurpation” of the association’s rights and raises concerns about gender and rank discrimination in the decision-making process.
The suit, invoking the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction, seeks a declaration that Boakye’s appointment is unconstitutional, null, and void. It also calls for his removal and the installation of ACP Arthur in his place. The Police Council and the Attorney-General are named as co-defendants, with the case hinging on constitutional interpretation and the autonomy of representative institutions.
This legal showdown has sparked national debate on constitutional governance, gender equity, and the integrity of public appointments. As the case unfolds, it could set a precedent for how representative roles are filled in Ghana’s state institutions and reinforce the importance of due process and institutional respect.
Source: https://www.graphic.com.gh
