Don’t politicise police reshuffle - Obiri Boahen

Citizens should stop criticising the Ghana Police Service and desist from reading political motives into the recent reshuffle conducted by the law enforcement body, a former Deputy Interior Minister of State under the erstwhile Kufour government, Nana Obiri Boahen, has cautioned.

“Do we have to read politics into it? Why is it that in this country, even when you are going to buy foodstuffs from the market, people are reading politics into it? Is it the first time that the police administration as a body has embarked on such an exercise? No! And it will not be the last time,” he noted on Monday May 16.

Nana Obiri Boahen made the comments in an interview on Class News’ 505 programme in response to critics who have raised concerns about the latest shake-up in the police administration ahead of the November 7 polls.

The Ghana Police Service announced the appointment of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Timothy Yoosa Bonga as the new Accra Regional Police Commander following the transfer of COP George Akuffo Dampare.

ACP Bonga’s appointment took immediate effect as COP Dr Akuffo Dampare heads for Winneba in the Central Region as Head of the Command and Staff College of the Police Service.

COP Dampare was credited with the swift arrest of Daniel Asiedu, the key suspect in the murder of the late Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North constituency, J. B. Danquah-Adu.

Some critics held the view that the transfer was too sudden as COP Dampare had been in office for only six months and has instituted reforms with considerable results in the capital.

But Mr Boahen says the action by the police hierarchy “is a normal routine that they are doing”.

“Why should we be worried about it? If there is anybody to complain, it is those affected officers who will complain. Even if we have about two or three days to the elections and the police administration thinks that there is a need to transfer people, what is wrong about that?” he questioned.

Others who were also transferred include former Tafo Pankrono Police Commander and one-time Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Kwesi Ofori, who will be heading the Adabraka Police Command. DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae now moves from the Volta Region to the Eastern Region as the Regional Commander.

The full list of those hit by the reshuffle is attached.