Ghana not ready for woman IGP position – DCOP Akrofi

A trainer at the Ghana Police Training Academy and former Greater Accra regional commander for the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Rtd Douglas Akrofi Asiedu, has said Ghana is not ready for a female Inspector General of Police (IGP).

DCOP Akrofi observed it would not be ‘easy’ for a woman to be in the position of the IGP now.

He was expressing his opinion on 3FM’s Sunrise show in Accra in a phone interview with host Winston Amoah.

“No! no! no! IGP position is not for female matters oo (sic),” he said, when asked if a woman should be considered for the position.

The veteran law enforcer explained women are more minded about their family than men are.

“Because, as for ladies, they are married; they have children, and their commitment to their family is more than men,” he said.

He is, however, not aversed to the selection of a woman for the job should that officer turn out to be the most suitable candidate.

“But if they decide [on a woman] fine; provided the lady can play down her family issues and pick the police work up. There is nothing wrong with it [choosing a woman]. It has happened in other countries,” he noted.

DCOP Akrofi had said earlier that the issue for selecting the IGP was a sensitive one.

He said “the qualification and the person to look for doesn’t matter” because government holds the prerogative of choice and exercise this choice in broad consultation with other stakeholders.

“Sometimes it is very sensitive when you put women to head such an institution. Similarly, with military you can’t just take a female and make her CDS. It is not easy.

“But if she is appointed, fine, we shall all support her,” he assured.

Dr. Nansata Yakubu, a parliament and conflict expert, a panelist on the morning show, observed the comments of DCOP Akrofi (rtd) confirms her conviction that there was a strong misogyny underlining appointments when considering women for leadership positions.

According to Dr Yakubu, “female police officers are doing a fine job for Ghana. Policing has progressed. It is a good conversation to have a female IGP.”

Two women, COP Beatrice Zakpaa Vib-Sanziri and COP Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, are among the officers being considered as replacement for IGP David Asante Apeatu, who is set to retire in three months.

So far, eight other candidates have been identified as possible suiters for the position.