MuntakaTells Parliament: Promotions In Police Are Merit-Based

The minister-designate for the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has argued that promotions in the security services must be based on merit and not a giveaway.

According to him, it would be unfair for some to break their backs to earn the promotion whilst others sleep and only wake up to be promoted.

Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 24, 2025 to be vetted for the position of the minister for the Interior, the Asawase Member of Parliament advocated codifying some of the promotion arrangements with best practices elsewhere.

Alhaji Muntaka was of the view that merit-based promotion would be a morale booster in the security services and motivate personnel to give off their best, knowing that their hard work would be noticed and rewarded in due time.

He said, “With our security services, we need to codify some of the promotion arrangements with best practices elsewhere, because the way it is mechanical some go to sleep, others break their backs and when it is promotions, everybody comes that they should be promoted. That is not fair and does not motivate people to work hard. I think the promotions must be based on merit and not just give away or wholesale.”

POLICE

Citing the Ghana Police Service, he noted that his checks with the Police so far suggested that anyone due for promotion had been fully promoted.

“I was looking at some of the agencies, for example, the Ghana Police Service, and their own organogram and the vacancies that they have; you could see that there are some places which need to be filled, but one of the things I heard also is that almost everyone that needed to be promoted has been promoted.”

Police promotions

For the purposes of promotions, there is an established Assessment Committees at the national and regional levels to make appropriate recommendations for the consideration of the Police Appointments and Promotions Board and the Police Council.

Subject to article 203(1) of the Constitution, 1992 promotions in the Ghana Police Service are generally regulated by regulation 37 of C.I. 37.

For better appreciation, there are three (3) categories of promotions in the Service.

Category A [ACP – COP]

Category B [ASP – ACP]

Category C [Constable – C/Inspr]

Category A [ACP – COP]

By virtue of Article 203 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, the promotion of officers above the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police are made by the President, on the advice of the Police Council. This, by practice, seniority and length of years served is immaterial, because this category is at the discretion of the President.

Category B [ASP – ACP]

Promotion of officers under category B is done by the Police Council upon the recommendation of the Assessment Committees through Police Appointments and Promotions Board.

There no officer or group of officers whose promotion(s), according to our sources, has or have been delayed or denied.

Category C [Constable – C/Inspr]

Promotion of officers under category C is done by the IGP upon the recommendation of the Assessment Committees through Police Appointments and Promotions Board.

Again, there is no officer or group of officers whose promotion(s) has or have been delay or denied.

Special Recommendation [exception to the general promotion]. Regulation 37 (2) (c ) of C.I 76 makes provision for special recommendation for promotion on the following;

1. meritorious acts of bravery or
2. valour in the prevention of crime or
3. outstanding performance of duty.

Special recommendation under regulation 37(2)(c) including outstanding performance of duty is not contingent upon or subject to length of service and seniority. Special recommendation is applicable to all the three categories of promotion.

The effects of regulation 37(2)(c) is to encourage, reward and compensate hardworking or outstanding performance of duty.

Generally, the minimum years to be considered for promotion are 4 years, subject to satisfactory performance assessment of good conduct.

COMMENDATION

The Interior Minister-designate, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, commended the Ghana Police Service for their handling of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

According to him, the strategic refusal of the Police to use firearms during the polls helped to defuse tensions at the polling centers, despite the instances of provocation.

He assured the Appointments Committee that he will support efforts of the Police in prosecuting individuals found to have committed crimes during the polls.

“I like how the police handled the elections; they refused to use firearms despite the provocation. Instead, they took videos of those misconducting themselves and are now prosecuting them, and if given the nod, I will support them in those prosecutions,” he said.

Alhaji Muntaka continued that, “The decision of the police to refuse to use firearms is the reason no deaths have come from the police from the elections so far.

“Some of the shootings came from the army, and that is on record, but none from the police and that’s why I will support them in prosecuting any wrongdoer.”

The minister-designate also praised the conduct of the National Election Security Task Force for their performance during the polls.

DAMPARE

Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has commended the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, for what he said was his outstanding service to Ghana.

He is also particularly touched by Dr Dampare’s contributions to law enforcement and national security, which deserve celebration and recognition.

The minority leader expressed admiration for the IGP’s leadership, noting that Ghana would be a safe haven if it had such leadership quality consistently.

“The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, many may have their views about him, but I am one person who respects him and admires him.

“If we consistently have his type manning our police service and other institutions, Ghana would be a better place.”

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