Uneasy calm in Ghana police service

...As senior police officers agitate over promotion irregularities


SENIOR POLICE Officers (SPOs) from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACOP) in the Ghana Police Service across the country are seething with anger over promotion irregularities.
They are also fuming about traces of the twin canker of bribery and corruption leading to selective promotion in the face of existing conventions and some of them intend going to court to seek redress.
The aggrieved senior officers, who have Indicate their disappointment in the Police Administration, have petitioned the Police Council which is yet to sit in February, to take steps to regularize their promotion or carry out their intentions.
The agitation and wrangling seem to give credence to the latest Afrobarometer report which has cited the police service as the most perceived corrupt public institution. The results of the round six Afrobarometer survey by governance think tank CDD-Ghana, which survey focused on trust and perceived corruption in Ghana's public institutions, said as high as 89% of the respondents said the police service is the most corrupt institution.
The Police Administration has decreed that only senior police officers who have gone to the Police Academy at Winneba could be promoted on merit.
It is gathered that in spite of this convention, 40 out of 90 who have passed out at the Academy cannot be promoted with the pretext that there are no vacancies.
The irony, however, is that the Police Administration is allegedly currently relying on the old seniority list for promotions irrespective of whether one has been to the Academy.
The SPOs are angered because there are officers who have not pursued the course at the Academy and therefore not due for promotion but has been promoted while those who had been at the Academy are yet to be promoted.
Some officers on study leave outside the country have had to defer their courses outside to return to pursue courses at the Police Academy to qualify them for promotion only to be told that there are no vacancies when those who are not due have been promoted on special recommendation.
Citing examples, the aggrieved officers pointed to DSP Cephas Arthur who has just (January 2015) been promoted to Superintendent on special recommendation even as the Police Administration insist there are no vacancies for those who have been to the Police Academy.
One Chief Superintendent Abiba, who is just two years in her rank like Supt. Cephas Arthur, is said to have been promoted to ACOP in the face of the convention that promotion of SPOs are done in every four years.
Chief Superintendent Deborah Anderson Campbell, the Manhyia Divisional Commander is on transfer to Accra to take up an appointment as ACOP even though the three (Cephas Arthur, Abiba and Anderson Campbell) have not been to the Police Academy.
The affected officers are pointing accusing fingers at COP Rose Atinga Bio in charge of Administration of the Police Service for the development.
A complainant who wants to remain anonymous for obvious reason of reprisal suggested that the IGP who has retired and is on contract now, should be preparing to move out to create the needed vacancy if claims of no vacancies for promotion is true.
The Ashanti Watch has, however, come across a Police Wireless message issued last December 29, 2014 to all Regional, Divisional, District and Unit Commanders as an after thought to ease the pent up anger of the SPOs.
The message indicated that the Police Council has given approval for the decoupling the Police Hospital establishment for which 88 SPO vacancies have been created for the promotion of remaining officers who are due.
The Ashanti Watch has also come across a number of promotions from Superintendent to Chief Superintendent and Chief Superintendent to Assistant Commissioner of Police COP and from with effect from January 2015.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), per the Wireless message originated by the Director General of Ghana Police/Administration, pleaded that "all personnel exercise patience and wait as the provisions of the C. I. 76 are being implemented in the interest of all".
Reacting to the allegations, DCOP Rev. David Ampah Bennin Director General of the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Police Service insisted that there are no elements of corruption, irregularities or favouritism in promotions and that promotion rules cannot be bent in favour of any officer as being speculated.
He noted that the Ghana Police Command and Staff College is not a pre-requisite for promotion in the Senior Officer rank as is being alleged and that it is not captured in the C.I 76.
He said the Staff College is a learning Centre to improve upon the professional performance of Senior Officers and claimed that promotions are purely based on vacancies and recommendations by the Assessment Committees at the National and Regional levels for the consideration of the Police Appointment and Promotions Advisory Board and the Police Council.
The DCOP further noted that even if there were enough vacancies, the IGP and the Police Council would follow the strict rules governing promotions.
The Police spokesman said Promotions in the Service, are informed variously by promotion examination, Seniority and length of years served, subject to satisfactory performance assessment of good conduct; or Special recommendation based on meritorious acts of bravery or valour in the prevention of crime or outstanding performance of duty.
He said a Senior Officer could also recommend an officer for promotion to the Appointment and Promotions Advisory Board for consideration.
DCOP Benin indicated that recommendations also took into consideration officer's integrity and good conduct, Efficiency, attitude towards work and sense of responsibility
Experience and capacity for co-operation with other officers, Initiative and creativity, ability to offer leadership, Seniority and whether the officer has served the required number of years in the relevant post.