The Supreme Court has delayed a case brought forward by Imani Africa and Security Analyst Prof Kwesi Aning, challenging the President’s authority to dismiss key public officials like the Inspector General of Police, Chief Fire Officer, and Comptroller General of Immigration Service unless for specified misbehavior.
Scheduled for hearing on May 23, the case was postponed as the state has yet to submit its responses. The state’s legal representative requested seven days to prepare the appropriate responses, which the apex court granted.
In their filing alongside security analyst Prof Kwesi Aning, the plaintiffs seek a declaration that, based on a proper interpretation of several constitutional articles, the President lacks the power to terminate these officials unless there is proven misconduct or misbehavior.
The case specifically addresses appointments to offices like the Chief Fire Officer of the Fire Service, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Prisons Service, and Comptroller General of Immigration Service.
The plaintiffs also argue against fresh appointments by new presidents without just cause, citing instances where officials were removed before reaching retirement age.
Their plea includes a request to restrain the President from dismissing these officials except in cases of proven misconduct, retirement, resignation, death, or incapacity.
“In some cases, these removals occur before the individual occupants of the office reach the statutory retirement age.
“For instance in 2017, the then Director-General of the Prisons Service, Mr. Emmanuel Yao Adzator was asked to proceed on leave at the age of 54 and subsequently another was appointed in his stead,” part of the writ read.