Accra: The Court of Appeal has directed the Ghana Police Service to correct an error that resulted in the denial of promotions to 40 Police Chief Inspectors in 2021. This order requires the service to grant the officers their deserved promotions and entitlements within six months.
According to Ghana News Agency, the unanimous decision was delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Eric Baah. The panel instructed the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General, and the Police Management Board to ensure the promotions are implemented. This ruling comes after the officers appealed a February 2025 High Court decision that dismissed their suit over claims of unfair promotion denial.
The officers had served between 25 and 30 years and argued they were unjustly excluded from a special promotion amnesty exercise. This exercise allowed officers with advanced degrees earned before 2020 to be promoted. While junior officers from Constable to Inspector benefitted from this exercise, the Chief Inspectors were merely congratulated and not granted direct entry into the Police Academy, a step necessary for promotion to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
Their appeal included requests for direct promotion into the Academy and compensation for income lost due to halted career advancement. Justice Frederick Tetteh, in his February 5, 2025, judgement, ruled against the plaintiffs, stating that higher academic qualifications alone were not grounds for promotion. He explained that entry into the Police Academy required either a competitive examination or a special recommendation, as specified by Police Service Regulations.
The High Court had suggested that the plaintiffs continue taking the entrance examination, as they might succeed in the future. Following the Court of Appeal's ruling, some officers expressed joy and relief at the decision.