Calls for ‘dismissal’ of IGP premature and misplaced – Minority

Members of the Minority in Parliament have described as "premature" and "misplaced" calls for the removal of David Asante-Apeatu as Inspector General of Police.

The stance of the Minority is in contrary to calls by a section of Ghanaians for the IGP to be sacked over his failure to curb crime following the rampant attacks by armed robbers in some parts of the country.

Addressing a press conference Friday, Minority Spokesperson on Interior, James Agalga explained that despite the IGP being the head of the Ghana Police Service, he is mainly responsible for operations and not policy.

Expressing the minority's view on the matter, Mr. Agalga noted that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who is the head of the Police Council, and by extension, the Akufo-Addo led administration should be kicked out based on their handling of security issues in the country.

"It is premature and misplaced. Why am I saying so? The IGP is only the operational head of the police. He is in charge of only operational matters. He doesn't determine policy. There is a Police Council which is chaired by the Vice President if you look at the security architecture at the top is the President who is in charge of the National Security Council. You have the Vice President serving there, you have the Minister of State so I think that this issue is simply bigger than the IGP,” he said.

He added, “When it gets to a situation where it has to do with operational matters alone and we think that the IGP has not shown enough competence, we will call for his head. So those of you who think that the IGP should be reshuffled or be sacked should be calling for the NPP as a whole to be sacked including the Vice President that is our humble view."

There has been growing cases of crime in the country over the past weeks with a case with one involving a Lebanese man who was shot dead after he went to withdraw cash from a bank at the Tema Industrial Area on Wednesday, February 28.

Prior to the shooting of the Lebanese, armed robbers on the morning of Tuesday, February 27, stormed an automobile company in the North Industrial Area and made away with huge sums of money leaving a number of people injured.

But two suspects were arrested same day.

The Ghana Police Service on Thursday, March 1 following concerns and the insecurity of Ghanaians following the surge in armed robbery attacks announced a major shakeup where some top officials of the service were reassigned.

The shakeup carried out by the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu has seen Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Director General of Police Operations, being reassigned to head the Research and Planning Department.

Government has also deployed the military to support the police in combating crime in the country.

Information Minister Mustapha Hamid in a press briefing said the decision was arrived at after Vice President Mahamadu Bawumia called an emergency meeting with top security officials on Thursday following the increased crime wave.

Mr. Hamid said the ongoing operation ‘Calm Life’ aims at combating criminal activities in all parts of the country.