C/INSPR CRISTOPHER OKPATTAH & 39 ORS v. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE & 20RS
2025
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
CORAM
- HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE FREDERICK TETTEH
Areas of Law
- Administrative Law
- Employment Law
- Evidence Law
2025
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
CORAM
AI Generated Summary
Chief Inspectors of the Ghana Police Service, all degree holders, sued seeking one-step promotions with three incremental credits to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and direct entry into the Police Academy, invoking a 2021 directive and subsequent special amnesty signals. They tendered police wireless messages and petitions to support their claim that similarly situated junior officers received administrative promotions. The Court examined the Police Service Regulations (C.I. 76) and the Evidence Act’s preponderance standard, stressing that academic qualifications do not automatically confer promotion and that the party who asserts must prove. Finding no documentary proof that Plaintiffs submitted certificates or that C.I. 76 was set aside, and deeming the ‘amnesty’ a discretionary administrative policy, the Court held it lacked authority to compel promotions or direct entry. It dismissed the claims, urged adherence to legal promotion processes, and declined to award costs.
By their endorsement on their writ of summons and statement of claim, dated 5th July, 2023, the Plaintiffs are claiming the following reliefs from the Defendants;
a. An Order directed at the 1st and 2nd Defendants to promote the Plaintiffs based on the special amnesty by granting the Plaintiffs one (1) step with three (3) incremental credits to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police.
b. An Order directed at the 1st and 2nd Defendants to grant the Plaintiffs
direct entry to the Police academy unreservedly.
c. An Order directed at the 1st and 2nd Defendants to restore the loss income due the Plaintiffs as a result of the 1st and 2nd Defendants action of not promoting the Plaintiffs under the special amnesty.
d. Costs, legal fees inclusive.
e. Any other Orders that this Honourable Court may deem fit to make.
The Plaintiffs are Chief Inspectors of the Ghana Police Service, currently serving under various capacities of the Service in the Republic of Ghana. The Plaintiffs have all procured degrees from their various universities. The Plaintiffs averred that, on
CERTIFIED
TRUE COPY
REGISTRAR
HIGH COURT-GENERAL JURISDICTION
8th February 2021, the office of the 1st Defendant issued directives to police personnel of the Ghana Police Service through their various Commanders to the effect that, police personnel who passed out from the Ghana Police Service training school on or before 31st December, 2008, and have been awarded degrees on or before 31st December, 2020, must submit certified copies of their degree certificates to the Police Headquarters by 26th February, 2021, for a special exercise, after having set aside the provisions in C.I. 76, which regulates promotions in the Ghana Police Service.
The Plaintiffs averred further that, they, together with other Police Personnel submitted their degree certificates in accordance with the circulated directives. Pursuant to the aforementioned directives, the Plaintiffs averred that, they duly complied by submitting certified copies of their certificates to the Police Headquarters by 26th February, 2021.The Plaintiffs added that on 21st July, 2021, series of special administrative promotions under a special amnesty granted were released by the 2nd Defendant. The Plaintiffs further added that, in the said promotions under a special amnesty granted by the 2nd Defendant, General Corporals were granted special amnesty and awarded one step with three (3) incremental credits in their ranks. Thus, promoting