IMANI Africa has said it will study the Supreme Court’s full reasoning before deciding on its next course of action following the dismissal of a suit challenging the President’s constitutional authority to appoint and remove heads of key security agencies.
Addressing journalists after the ruling, Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, expressed disappointment with the decision, saying it leaves “a lot to be desired.”
The policy think tank, together with security analyst Professor Kwesi Aning, filed the suit in 2024, arguing that appointments and removals of heads of security agencies should not be subject to political discretion.
According to the plaintiffs, allowing governments to appoint and dismiss security chiefs based on political considerations poses a significant risk to Ghana’s national security architecture and undermines the professionalism and independence of the country’s security institutions.
The suit sought a declaration from the Supreme Court that, upon a proper interpretation of the 1992 Constitution, the President does not have unfettered authority to remove the heads of specified security agencies from office.
However, delivering judgment on Wednesday June 3, 2026, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court chaired by Justice Gabriel Pwamang dismissed all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, ruling that the case lacked merit.
In its decision, the Court distinguished the offices of the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of Prisons from categories of public officers protected under Article 191 of the Constitution. The Court held that the two positions do not fall within the scope of the constitutional provision.
The Court further ruled that the appointments of the Chief Fire Officer and the Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service are governed by statutory provisions and remain within the President’s discretion. It noted that the President is constitutionally mandated to establish and oversee the country’s security architecture.
Despite the setback, IMANI Africa says it remains committed to pursuing reforms that promote the independence and stability of Ghana’s security institutions and will carefully review the Court’s detailed reasoning before determining its next steps.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
