SC dismisses IMANI Africa’s suit challenging President’s Authority to appoint and remove security heads

The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by IMANI Africa challenging the President’s constitutional authority to appoint and remove heads of Ghana’s security agencies.

The Court, presided over by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, ruled that the case lacked merit and dismissed all the reliefs sought by the policy think tank.

It also clarified the constitutional and statutory provisions governing appointments within the various security services.

Reacting to the ruling, a representative of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil said the organization was informed that the court had distinguished between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of Prisons, and other security service heads such as those of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana National Fire Service.

According to him, IMANI Africa’s position was that all the security service heads are public servants protected under Article 191 of the Constitution and should be treated equally under the law.

However, he said the Supreme Court ruled that the IGP and the Prisons Service leadership are special cases and should be treated differently from the heads of the other security agencies.

“In a sense, what we asked for, they haven’t given us. But they’ve decided what to give us and that’s what they explained to us,” he said.

He noted that the Court’s reasoning appeared to be based on considerations of state security and the President’s role as head of the country’s security apparatus, although IMANI Africa said it was still seeking greater clarity on the basis of the decision.

The ruling brings to an end the legal challenge over the President’s powers to appoint and remove heads of Ghana’s security agencies.

By: Jacob Aggrey