Supreme Court Case Filed Against Kofi Boakye’s Police Council Appointment

Henrietta Nana Yaa Simpson Challenges Kofi Boakye’s Appointment to Police Council at Supreme Court

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. Simpson argues that the appointment is unconstitutional and breaches the procedures outlined in the laws governing the composition of the Council.

Filed on Monday, June 23, 2025, the writ seeks a declaration that Mr. Boakye’s appointment is null, void, and of no legal effect, and is calling for his immediate removal. At the heart of Simpson’s case is the claim that Mr. Boakye was not nominated by the Retired Senior Police Officers Association, as mandated by law, but was instead unilaterally appointed by the President.

According to the Police Service Act and Article 201 of the 1992 Constitution, the Ghana Police Council should comprise 10 members. These include the Vice-President (as Chairperson), Minister for the Interior, Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General or a representative, a Ghana Bar Association-nominated lawyer, a representative of the Retired Senior Police Officers Association, one representative each from the Senior and Junior ranks of the Police Service, and two members appointed by the President.

Simpson maintains that ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur, the elected President of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO), is the legitimate nominee of the association. She argues that the President’s decision to bypass NARPO’s leadership and appoint Mr. Boakye violates Article 201(f) of the Constitution, which reserves nomination rights exclusively for the Association.

In her legal argument, Simpson invokes the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under Articles 2, 130, 17(1), 201, and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, alongside Rule 45 of the Supreme Court Rules, 1996 (C.I. 16). The case names three defendants: COP (Rtd.) Nathan Kofi Boakye (1st), the Ghana Police Council (2nd), and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (3rd).

She insists that ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur qualifies as a senior retired officer and that her exclusion from the Police Council is not only unconstitutional but also discriminatory, particularly on the grounds of her gender and rank.

“The exclusion of ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur based on her rank or gender is discriminatory and violates Article 17 of the Constitution,” Simpson stated.

Simpson is seeking a series of declarations and reliefs, including:

That only NARPO has the constitutional authority to nominate a retired senior officer to the Council;

That ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur is duly qualified and should rightfully occupy that position;

That the appointment of Mr. Boakye without NARPO’s nomination is unconstitutional.

She is also requesting that the Court remove COP (Rtd.) Nathan Kofi Boakye from the Police Council and install ACP (Rtd.) Florence Arthur in his place, along with any other reliefs the Court may find appropriate.

This legal challenge could have far-reaching implications for the integrity and transparency of appointments to national security institutions.