Activist sues Government over Kofi Boakye's appointment to police council
By DL News
Published
1 min read
Simpson is questioning the appointment of Commissioner of Police (Retired) Nathan Kofi Boakye, who was selected to represent the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO) on the Council.
A Ghanaian businesswoman and gender advocate, Henrietta Nana Yaa Simpson, has taken the bold step of challenging the government in the Supreme Court over what she deems an unconstitutional and discriminatory appointment to the Ghana Police Council.
Simpson is questioning the appointment of Commissioner of Police (Retired) Nathan Kofi Boakye, who was selected to represent the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO) on the Council. In a writ filed on June 23, 2025, she contends that the nomination disregarded legal procedure and the authority of the association itself.
At the heart of her case is the claim that the legitimate nominee of NARPO — Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired) Florence Arthur — was sidelined without justification. Notably, Arthur is not only the elected president of the association but also the first woman to hold that position.
Simpson alleges that former President John Mahama’s decision to appoint Mr. Boakye was done without due consultation or consent from the association, flouting provisions of both the 1992 Constitution and the Police Service Act. She argues that such executive overreach threatens democratic accountability and marginalizes female leadership.
The lawsuit, which lists Mr. Boakye, the Police Council, and the Attorney-General as respondents, invokes the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction, citing violations of Articles 2, 17(1), 130, 201, and 296 of the Constitution.
Among other reliefs, Simpson is asking the Court to declare Mr. Boakye’s appointment null and void, affirm the association’s exclusive right to select its representative, and order the rightful inclusion of ACP (Rtd.) Arthur on the Police Council. She also wants the Court to recognize the exclusion of Arthur as gender discrimination and a breach of constitutional principles.
In her view, allowing Mr. Boakye’s appointment to stand sets a dangerous precedent — one that undermines institutional integrity and entrenches gender bias in top-level governance.
