The Kumasi High Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by 40 Chief Inspectors against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, over their exclusion from a promotion process within the Ghana Police Service.
The officers initiated legal action on September 18, 2023, arguing that they had been unfairly denied the opportunity to advance to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). They claimed they were left out of a special amnesty programme, which granted promotions to personnel who had obtained degrees before 2020. Despite decades of service, they said their junior colleagues benefited from the initiative while they were denied entry into the Police Academy, a requirement for promotion.
In their petition, the officers sought a court order compelling the IGP to promote them, allow them direct admission into the academy, and compensate them for lost earnings due to the alleged delay in their career progression.
However, the court rejected their case, stating that its decisions are guided by legal principles rather than emotions or sympathy. It emphasised that obtaining an academic qualification does not automatically entitle an officer to a promotion.
The ruling further explained that admission into the Police Academy is based on competitive examinations or special recommendations, in accordance with the Police Service Regulations.
Ultimately, the court ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove their claims on the balance of probabilities, leading to the dismissal of their case.
