K.K. Manfo apologizes to IGP

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Dr. Kofi Kesse Manfo has boldly apologized to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong for the unwarranted attack on his person.

Just after the Police Council instructed the retirement of Dr. K.K. Manfo and some other top officers, Dr. Manfo directed his anger towards the IGP, and wrote, "As you are aware, His Excellency the President appointed me DIGP, the same day he appointed you Inspector-General. Your position and that of mine are thus presidential appointments. Consequently, it is his Excellency the President, the appointing authority only, who can ask either of us to retire. It is not you or any other authority who asks or serves us to retire." He said

But according to the Chronicle, Dr. Manfo has eaten back his words by apologizing to the Police Chief.

In a letter to Mr. Acheampong headlined "RE-NOTICE OF COMPULSORY RETIREMENT," Dr. Manfo expressed regret for his actions.

"I write to withdraw my letter dated 29th August, 2007 on the above issue. The action taken is regretted." The apology letter concluded.

The Chronicle said when it contacted the IGP about his acknowledgment and comments on the apology letter, he confirmed receiving the letter but said he could not comment on it.

The Chronicle said it gathered that Dr. Manfo's apology letter was necessitated by the President's anger when his attention was drawn to the content of the letter on August 29.

The paper learnt that he was being considered to man the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to demonstrate his expertise.

His letter to the IGP further stated, "If in the wisdom of the President any of his appointees has to be replaced, retired or redeployed he does so. It is not based on age.

“Under the 1992 Constitution, the President has the prerogative to extend any appointee's tenure. You cannot decide this for the President.

“If you do so you will be usurping his powers. If you feel I have to be retired, the way forward for you is to write to the President through the Minister for Interior or the Police Council for his decision.

“I regret therefore to state that you have acted ultra vires. Your order can therefore not be complied with, it is unlawful.”

This is not the first time Dr. Manfo has pulled a surprise regarding his retirement. The first was in March last year, when he was reminded of his retirement. He quickly filed a petition to the Police Council informing them that his original year of birth was 1950 and not 1947 as he had previously personally inserted in his records in the Police Service.

The paper said its sources informs it that his petition was dismissed on the grounds that the Public Service Act categorically frowned on such moves since the Act indicated that "Whenever a date of birth offered by a candidate for appointment to Government Service is accepted and is entered upon his official record it cannot subsequently be amended either by Government or the candidate, although further evidence may be brought to show that it was in fact incorrect."

When the Paper contacted Dr. Manfo for clarification on his apology letter, he confirmed writing the letter but said he was not prepared to talk to the Chronicle due to its consistent attacks on him.

He said the recent one was when this Paper said his record of being the first African Police Officer to obtain a Doctorate Degree had been broken by one other African Police Officer."

"I got my doctorate degree in 1996 and the other person got his just recently. Instead of you saying the person is now the second, because you don't like me you said the person has broken my record," he noted.

He also lamented that the paper had described him as a limping man but had forgotten how he had organized parades and chased armed robbers.

Dr. Manfo has been directed to proceed on his 126 days terminal leave on September 1, pending his retirement.