Ghana police officers sue top brass over unfair promotions

A group of 40 Chief Inspectors in the Ghana Police Service have dragged their bosses to court, accusing them of denying them the opportunity to advance their careers.

The aggrieved officers claim that they were left out of a special amnesty programme that granted promotions to their junior colleagues who had obtained university degrees by 2020.

According to their lawsuit filed at the High Court in Kumasi, the officers have served between 25 and 30 years in the police service, but have not been given the chance to enter the Police Academy for further training and promotion to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)1.

They allege that the Police Administration has violated their rights and demoralised them by promoting their subordinates who had served fewer years in the service.

The plaintiffs are seeking an order from the court to compel the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, the Police Management Board (POMAB) and the Attorney-General (A-G) to promote them in line with the special amnesty.

They also want the court to order the defendants to grant them direct entry to the Police Academy and restore their lost income due to the lack of promotion.

The defendants, however, have denied any wrongdoing and asked the court to dismiss the suit.

They argue that the IGP has no power to promote officers above the rank of Chief Inspector, and that the special amnesty was an administrative decision to meet the exigencies of the time and absorb graduate junior officers.

They also contend that the special amnesty had nothing to do with entry into the senior cadre of the police service, but was purely based on published criteria.

The case is one of several lawsuits filed by police officers in recent years over promotions, transfers and disciplinary actions.

Some analysts have attributed these legal disputes to poor communication, lack of transparency and favouritism within the police service.

They have called for reforms in the police administration and management to ensure fairness, accountability and professionalism.

The court is yet to fix a date for hearing the suit.

The plaintiffs have expressed hope that justice will be served and their grievances will be addressed.

Source: Graphic Online