IMANI Ghana and security expert Prof. Kwesi Aning has run to the Supreme Court to restrict President John Dramani Mahama from booting out the IGP and other security heads.
According to them, security heads will be unfairly treated if they are removed before the matter which is pending before the Supreme Court is heard.
Their suit comes following a statement by the Minister of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President, in accordance with the Constitution and the Council of State, made the appointment.
“President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Articles 91 and 202 of the 1992 constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, appointed Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the Inspector-General of Police.
“He replaces COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
In their suit, the plaintiffs requested the court that “In the circumstance, I humbly and respectfully pray the honourable court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant/Respondent its principals, including His Excellency the President of the Republic, the respective Council of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, National Fire
“Service, Ghana Prisons Service, and whomsoever or however described from removing, terminating, dismissing, sacking, suspending or whichever way described; the Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Comptroller of the Ghana Immigration Service, the Director General of the National Fire Service and the Inspector General of Police from their respective positions as Heads of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service pending the final determination of the suit”.
The suit further noted “That without a doubt, the suit, which raises very serious constitutional issues and with the balance of convenience heavily tilting in favour of the Applicants this application has merit.
“That the Defendant suffers no injury, should the application be granted, especially since, the decision is in no way far to be delivered; and more so, since, in the event Plaintiffs do not emerge victorious in the final action, the Executive will not be proscribed in exercising their rights of removal of any of these heads.
“That this is an apposite case which is just and convenient, that the instant application is granted”.
Meanwhile, Franklin Cudjoe, founder and president of IMANI Africa, has stated that this development underscores a longstanding legal challenge regarding presidential authority over security agency heads.
“This morning’s injunction filed by our lawyers was in furtherance of a suit filed by IMANI and Prof. Kwesi Aning LAST YEAR, MARCH 2024 at the Supreme Court, 9 months before the December elections,” he clarified in an article.
He further dismissed claims that the move was to derail the newly elected President John Mahama. “It is not about any attempt to derail John Mahama at all,” he emphasized.
