Council of State helps Akufo-Addo to cripple Ghana Police

President Akufo-Addo, has given a two-year contract extension to the 61-year old James Oppong-Boanuh, and made him the substantive Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The appointment last Friday, passed through the Council of State for a seal of approval and has since sparked lots of murmurings in the Police Service and likely to affect morale.

The extension means, James Oppong-Boanuh, who was to go on compulsory retirement on October 8, 2018, will be spending three years as a contract police officer. This was after an earlier one year deal offered him, while he was a Deputy IGP, expired this year.

The latest extension means the IGP, will leave office in October 2021 at age 63. He will be the oldest policeman in the country’s history.

What is certain is that, other officers, who are going on retirement this year, will not get same contract deal offered the IGP. The appointment also means, the rise of the officers which comes with the retirement and exit of the IGP, is not guaranteed.

Mr Oppong-Boanuh, was born October 8, 1958 and got enlisted into the Police Service on August 1, 1988, during the era of the Jerry John Rawlings’ Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC).

His mates, included the man he took over from as IGP, David Asante-Apeatu, FrankAdu-Poku, the current Executive Director of anti-graft agency, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), who retired as Police Commissioner.

Others are; Rose Bio Atinga, Prosper Agblor, Patrick Eden Timbillah, Bright Oduro, Ransford Moses Ninson, Beatrice ZakpaaVib-Sanziri, Yaagy Akuribah, Maxwell Sakipasgo Atingane, Charles KpapuTorkor and Emmanuel Amissah.

Almost all of them, have retired from the service, leaving behind Prosper Agblor and Beatrice ZakpaaVib-Sanziri.

The Presidency is expected to officially announce his appointment later this week.

Mr Oppong-Boanuh, who was the Deputy IGP on Monday, July 22, 2019, was directed by the President to act in the stead of his immediate boss, Mr Asante Apeatu, who was sacked by President Akufo-Addo, two weeks to the expiration of his two-year contract.

Mr Asante Apeatu, was due to retire on August 14, 2019.

Many security analysts, have in the recent past kicked against such contracts appointment for the IGP, saying it does not bode well in the fight against crime, as many police officers, become lethargy in their duties and responsibilities.

Low morale and weariness under David Asante-Apeatu, led to him effecting transfers almost on quarterly basis in his quest to address the rising incidence of crime.

Although, many have described Mr Oppong-Boanuh, as a fine and fair-minded officer, they wish to see the kind of reforms he is bringing to the service, having being part of the leadership and management in the last two years.