IMANI Vice President criticizes new IGP appointment amid pending Supreme Court case

The Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has strongly opposed the government's decision to appoint a new Inspector General of Police (IGP) while a Supreme Court ruling on removing the former IGP is still pending.

Bentil condemned President John Mahama’s decision to relieve Dr. George Akuffo Dampare of his duties and replace him with COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, calling it a direct affront to the authority of the nation’s highest court.

Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story, he argued that taking such an action while a court case is ongoing undermines judicial authority and could render the court’s ruling ineffective.

He noted that while the Supreme Court has already heard arguments from all parties and set a date for its ruling, the President’s move to appoint a new IGP disregards due process.

Bentil warned that the decision could lead to legal and institutional chaos if the court rules against the President’s authority to remove security heads without just cause.

He emphasized that this issue is not about the personalities involved but about ensuring the security system’s integrity and stability.

Supreme Court Case and Injunction Request

IMANI Africa, along with security expert Prof. Kwesi Aning, has filed a case at the Supreme Court, seeking to prevent the President from removing the IGP and other security heads before the court delivers its verdict in May 2025. The suit argues that removing these officials before the ruling would be unfair and disruptive.

The plaintiffs have also requested an interlocutory injunction to prevent the government from interfering with the positions of key security heads, including the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Comptroller of the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Director-General of the National Fire Service.

Bentil reiterated that allowing the Supreme Court to rule before any changes are made would be in the best interest of the country’s security institutions.