The Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has criticized the government’s decision to appoint a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) while a Supreme Court ruling on the removal of the former IGP is still pending.
Describing the move as an act of contempt, Mr. Bentil argued that President John Mahama’s decision to replace Dr. George Akuffo Dampare with COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno undermines the judiciary’s authority.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on March 14, Mr. Bentil emphasized that legal principles prohibit actions that could render a court ruling ineffective.
“When a case is before a court, it is contemptuous for anyone to take an action that overreaches the court,” he stated. “The executive’s decision disregards the authority of the highest court, given that this case has been pending for nearly a year.”
Mr. Bentil further explained that although the Supreme Court has scheduled a ruling date after hearing arguments from all parties, the President proceeded with the appointment, a move he believes could lead to a legal stalemate.
He warned that if the Supreme Court eventually rules against the President’s authority to remove an IGP without just cause, the country could face serious institutional confusion.
“There is already a school of thought that suggests an injunction is in place, which is why we filed to confirm it,” he noted. “If the court rules in our favor, what happens next? We would be in a terrible constitutional crisis.”
Mr. Bentil clarified that the legal challenge is not about individuals but about protecting the integrity of the security system.
“We are not fighting for IGP Dampare or against IGP Yohuno. This is about ensuring that security appointments follow due process,” he said.
IMANI Africa and security expert Prof. Kwesi Aning have filed a suit at the Supreme Court to prevent the President from removing the heads of security agencies while the case remains undecided.
The plaintiffs argue that dismissing these officials before the ruling, expected in May 2025, could lead to unfair treatment and institutional instability.
They are seeking an interlocutory injunction to restrain the President and relevant security councils from interfering with the positions of the Inspector-General of Police, as well as the heads of the Ghana Prisons Service, Immigration Service, and National Fire Service.
According to the plaintiffs, granting the injunction would prevent any premature dismissals while ensuring that the final verdict determines the appropriate course of action.
With the Supreme Court’s decision imminent, the controversy surrounding the IGP appointment continues to fuel legal and political debate.