Odike's IGP election idea recipe for chaos - David Agbee

A Governance and Security Expert has asked the 2016 presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party to rethink his proposed idea of allowing police officers to elect their own Inspector General of Police.

This is after Mr Kwasi Addai-Odike at the party’s campaign launch said a UPP –led administration will ensure an IGP is elected by police officers instead of the usual appointment by the President.

Article 5 (1) of Ghana’s constitution states that “there shall be a President of the Republic of Ghana who shall be the Head of State and Head of Government and Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana.”

But the UPP flag bearer insists election of an IGP would be the best option for the country because “when the president appoints IGP, he always work in favor of the sitting president, we want the police administration to be autonomous to work without fear or favor or any influence from any power that be.”

However discussing the issue with Kapital News, David Agbee said the UPP leader must reconsider his ideas.

“I think that he has not been able to educate himself as far as the constitution of this country is concerned.”

He said the only way Mr. Odike could carry out his idea, is through constitutional amendment, because as far as the constitution exists, the president is mandated to appoint the ÍGP and going contrary to it would amount to disrespect to the laws of the land.

Mr Agbee further indicated that even when the constitution is amended, there would still be some key considerations to make, so that “it will not cause any chaotic situation as far as policing is concerned because one of the key things we know in security especially in police is that, you have to respect your authority so if an appointment has to be done by the police officers themselves, it is going to bring some kind of confusion within the police administration’s point of view.

He opined that the idea could be implemented when the constitution is amended, or when a committee is set up to deal with it, otherwise it will cause chaos in the police administration and the country as a whole.