President Mahama Appoints New Heads for Immigration, Fire, and Prisons Services Amid Legal Challenge
President John Dramani Mahama has made key appointments to the leadership of three major security agencies—the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), and the Ghana Prisons Service.
A statement from the presidency, signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister of Government Communications, announced the appointments on Friday, March 13.
The new appointees are:
- DDGP 3 Patience Baffoe-Bonnie as Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service
- DCFO Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong as Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service
- DCI Samuel Basentale Amadu as Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service
These appointments automatically replace the current occupants of the positions.
Context and Legal Challenge
The reshuffling of security leadership follows the recent swearing-in of COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the new Inspector-General of Police, replacing COP George Akuffo Dampare.
However, the President’s decision to restructure the security agencies has sparked legal action.
Policy think tank Imani Ghana and security expert Prof. Kwesi Aning have jointly filed a suit at the Supreme Court, challenging the President’s authority to remove the Inspector-General of Police and other security heads before an ongoing legal case is determined in May 2025.
The plaintiffs argue that such removals could be unfair and unconstitutional, and they have sought an interlocutory injunction to prevent the government from dismissing or interfering with the leadership of the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service, and Prisons Service.
According to the suit, the matter raises “serious constitutional issues,” and the balance of convenience favors the applicants.
Despite the legal challenge, President Mahama has proceeded with the appointments, indicating his administration’s commitment to restructuring the security agencies.
The Supreme Court’s decision in the coming months could, however, have implications for the validity of these new appointments.
