A Ghanaian businesswoman, Henrietta Nana Yaa Simpson, has filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of Commissioner of Police (Retired) Nathan Kofi Boakye to the Ghana Police Council.
Madam Simpson argues that the appointment is unconstitutional because the Retired Senior Police Officers Association did not nominate Mr. Boakye as required by law, and she contends that the President acted unilaterally.
She points out that the Police Service and Council Act specifies that the Council must have 10 members, including the Vice-President as chair, the Minister for the Interior, the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General or a representative, a lawyer nominated by the Ghana Bar Association, a representative of the Retired Senior Police Officers Association, representatives from both the Senior and Junior Police ranks, and two members appointed by the President.
In the writ filed on Monday, June 23, 2025, Madam Simpson requests the Supreme Court to declare Mr. Boakye’s appointment unconstitutional and void, and to order his removal from the Council.
She asserts that ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur, the elected President of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO), is the rightful nominee to represent retired senior police officers on the Council.
Invoking the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction under Articles 2, 130, 17(1), 201, and 296 of the 1992 Constitution and Rule 45 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 (C.I. 16), the suit names three defendants: COP (Rtd.) Nathan Kofi Boakye (1st Defendant), the Police Council (2nd Defendant), and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (3rd Defendant).
Madam Simpson contends that only the legitimately elected leadership of NARPO has the exclusive right to nominate a retired senior police officer to the Police Council, and the President does not have authority under Article 201(f) to make such an appointment independently.
She stated, “The members of the National Association of Retired Police Officers, through their legitimately elected executive members, have the sole and exclusive right to nominate a senior retired officer of their number onto the Police Council.”
Furthermore, she argues that ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur qualifies as a “retired senior police officer” and that her exclusion from the Council is both unconstitutional and discriminatory.
She added, “The removal of ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur from the Police Council based on her rank and gender is discriminatory and violates Article 17 of the Constitution.”
Madam Simpson seeks a declaration that only NARPO can nominate a retired senior police officer to the Council, that ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur qualifies for the position, and that the President’s refusal to accept her nomination is unconstitutional.
Additionally, she requests that the court order the removal of COP (Rtd.) Nathan Kofi Boakye and install ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur in his place, along with any other relief the Court may find appropriate.
