The Ghana Police Service has advanced 12,802 personnel, addressing a backlog of promotions that accumulated over five to ten years.
These promotions, effective from January through early February 2026, were granted following administrative and special recommendations and conform to the Police Service Regulations, 2012 (Constitutional Instrument 76).
Regulation 37 of CI 76 specifies that advancement within the Service is determined by promotion examinations, seniority and length of service, contingent on satisfactory performance appraisals of good conduct, or by special recommendation for acts of bravery or valour in preventing crime, or for exceptional duty performance.
The IGP’s Secretariat rejected allegations of favouritism reported by some media outlets, noting that the promotion process was overseen by units, districts, divisional and regional commanders across all 25 police regions nationwide.
“Information was sent to all the units, districts, divisional and regional commanders across all 25 police regions across the country to submit names of officers who were due for promotion, and that was how the administration arrived at that.
“Moreover, promotions in the Police Service can not be solely done by the IGP as CI 76 makes that clear,” it said.
The Secretariat added that approximately 11,900 officers in the junior ranks received a one‑step elevation, while around 600 promotions resulted from special recommendations.
“So, for instance, some personnel who had remained in their ranks for more than the stipulated period of four years were all promoted to their next ranks.
These were done to encourage everyone to work hard to gain due recognition.
“Our men are sacrificing a lot for this country. So they also deserve to be treated fairly, and that is what we are doing for everyone, no matter their background.
The Secretariat also examined complaints of unfair treatment, including matters involving personnel who had been interdicted for upwards of five years.
After reviewing those records, the officers were acquitted, reinstated and subsequently granted the promotions owed to them.
Complaints about deferred promotion dates were also investigated and the discrepancies rectified.
Personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty were likewise considered; following petitions from bereaved families, they were granted posthumous promotions.
