Supreme Court stays promotion order for 40 police chief inspectors

The Supreme Court has granted a stay of execution on a Court of Appeal judgment that ordered the promotion of 40 police chief inspectors to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). The ruling, delivered by a panel presided over by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, suspends the enforcement of the earlier judgment pending the final determination of an appeal filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and the Attorney-General. The court held that the officers would experience less inconvenience from a stay compared to the potential administrative disruption the police service would face if the promotions were executed and later overturned.

The legal dispute originated from a 2021 special promotion exercise and amnesty program intended for police officers who had obtained university degrees. The 40 plaintiffs, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Okpattah, initiated legal action after being excluded from the exercise despite holding the necessary qualifications and seeing junior colleagues elevated. While the Kumasi High Court initially dismissed their case, the Court of Appeal overturned that decision on January 27, 2026, directing the police administration to promote the affected officers.

Legal representatives for the officers, including lawyer Anne Kekeli Agbetsiafa, noted that the protracted nature of the case has taken a significant toll on the group. One of the 40 officers has died since the legal battle began, and several others are now on the verge of retirement. Despite the Supreme Court's decision to halt their promotions for now, the legal team expressed hope that the final resolution would eventually favor the officers. The court indicated that the officers could still be compensated or have their ranks restored if the IGP’s appeal is ultimately unsuccessful.

This stay of execution reflects the ongoing complexities within the Ghana Police Service regarding personnel management and promotional practices. The Supreme Court's intervention aims to preserve the status quo until the legal merits of the IGP's appeal are fully examined. The case is scheduled to return to the Supreme Court for further proceedings on October 29, where the substantive issues regarding the 2021 promotion criteria and the eligibility of the chief inspectors will be addressed.