The apex court has ruled that the suit filed by Imani Ghana and security expert Prof Kwesi Aning to restrain the President from removing the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies is moot.

In a ruling on March 25, a five-member panel of the apex court, which had Justice Paul Baffoe Bonney as its President, said the pendency of the application for an interlocutory injunction does not stop the president from performing his public and administrative function.

Imani Ghana and security expert Prof Kwesi Aning jointly filed a suit at the Supreme Court, seeking to restrain the President from removing the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies until an ongoing case relating to the matter is decided in May 2025.

According to the plaintiffs, the security heads in question would be unfairly treated if they were removed before the Supreme Court delivers its ruling.

The development followed widespread reports that the President intended to dismiss the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare and other key security officials.

In their suit, the plaintiffs prayed the court to grant an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant, including His Excellency the President of the Republic, and the respective councils of the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, National Fire Service, and Ghana Prisons Service, from removing, terminating, dismissing, sacking, suspending, or otherwise interfering with the positions of the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Comptroller of the Ghana Immigration Service, the Director-General of the National Fire Service, and the Inspector-General of Police.

The plaintiffs further argued that the suit raises serious constitutional issues, with the balance of convenience heavily favouring the applicants.

They contended that the government would suffer no harm should the court grant the application, as the verdict is imminent. Moreover, should the plaintiffs fail in their case, the Executive would still have the authority to remove the security heads in question.

The suit concluded by stating that the application is just, appropriate, and necessary under the circumstances, urging the court to grant the injunction to prevent any premature dismissals before the case is fully adjudicated.

The Supreme Court has fixed May 7, this year to give judgment on the substantive case.

So far, President Mahama has replaced the heads of several security agencies. Outgone officers include former Ghana Prisons Service boss Isaac Kofi Egyir, former Fire Service chief Julius A. Kuunuor, and ex-Immigration Service head Kwame Asuah Takyi.

They have been replaced with DDGP 3 Patience Baffoe-Bonnie as Director-General of Prisons, DCFO Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong as Chief Fire Officer, and DCI Samuel Basentale Amadu as Comptroller-General of Immigration.

COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno has replaced Dr George Akuffo Dampare as the Inspector General of Police. Article 202 (3) of the Constitution states that the power to appoint persons to hold or to act in an office in the Police Service shall vest in the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Police Council.