The Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has strongly criticized the government’s decision to appoint COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) while a Supreme Court case challenging the removal of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare remains pending.
According to Mr. Bentil, President John Mahama’s move to replace Dampare before the court delivers its ruling is a blatant disregard for judicial authority. He argues that such an action not only undermines the legal process but also risks creating a constitutional crisis if the court eventually rules against the removal.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story, Mr. Bentil emphasized that under legal principles, when a case is before the courts, any action that renders the pending decision ineffective is considered contemptuous.
“When a case is before a court, it is contemptuous of the court for anybody to take an action that overreaches the court. The executive’s action is a clear violation of judicial authority,” he stated.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court had already heard arguments from all parties and scheduled a date for its ruling, yet the President proceeded with the appointment regardless. He warned that if the ruling favors the petitioners and affirms that a president cannot arbitrarily remove an IGP without just cause, Ghana could face a governance stalemate.
Mr. Bentil stressed that the issue is not about the individuals involved, whether it be Dr. Dampare or COP Yohuno, but rather the broader principle of protecting the integrity of Ghana’s security institutions.
“This is not about IGP Dampare or IGP Yohuno. It is about ensuring that our security services are protected from political interference. If the ruling confirms that a President may not remove a ranked officer without just cause, then we are safeguarding the system for future administrations,” he explained.
The Supreme Court case, jointly filed by IMANI Ghana and security expert Prof. Kwesi Anning, seeks to prevent the removal of the IGP and other security agency heads until a final ruling is delivered in May 2025.
The petitioners argue that allowing these removals to proceed before the ruling would be unfair to the affected security officials. They further contend that the government would suffer no harm if the court grants the requested injunction, as the ruling is imminent.
Should the court side with the plaintiffs, the government may be compelled to reverse the appointment of COP Yohuno and reinstate Dr. Dampare, potentially creating an institutional crisis.
Mr. Bentil expressed disappointment over the executive’s handling of the matter, stating that the hasty appointment of a new IGP sets a dangerous precedent for governance. He remains hopeful that the court’s ruling will restore constitutional order and, if necessary, force the administration to correct its actions.
As the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its verdict, the controversy continues to spark heated debates on constitutional law, political interference in security agencies, and executive overreach in Ghana’s governance system.
