Forty Chief Inspectors from the Ghana Police Service have taken legal action against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Police Management Board (POMAB), and the Attorney-General (A-G).
They are challenging what they perceive as an unjustifiable refusal by the service to promote them.
These officers, through a lawsuit filed at the High Court in Kumasi, claim they were excluded from a series of promotions that stemmed from a special amnesty granted to police officers who graduated from police training schools by 2008 and obtained university degrees as of 2020.
Despite their extensive service of between 25 and 30 years, they assert that the Police Administration promoted their junior colleagues to higher ranks under the same special amnesty but denied them the same opportunity to enter the Police Academy for further promotions to the ranks of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
The plaintiffs argue that this refusal adversely impacted their salary increments and morale, as their junior colleagues now share equivalent ranks with them.
In response, the defendants, represented by State Attorney Kweku Boakye-Boateng, contend that the lawsuit lacks merit and should be dismissed.
They argue that the IGP can only promote junior officers up to the rank of Chief Inspector, while promotions above that rank fall under the jurisdiction of the Police Council, based on recommendations from the Appointments and Promotions Advisory Board (APAB).
The IGP maintains that the special amnesty promotion was an administrative policy decision, unrelated to entry into the senior cadre of the police service.
The plaintiffs seek an order from the court compelling the defendants, particularly the IGP and POMAB, to promote them in accordance with the special amnesty granted to other police officers.
Additionally, they request an order for “direct entry to the police academy unreservedly” and for the restoration of lost income due to the alleged non-promotions under the special amnesty.
