Senior police officers grumble over contracts for retiring officers

There is simmering tension in the Ghana Police Service over decision by the Akufo-Addo government to engage senior police officers due for retirement on contract, The aL-hAJJ’s intelligence has gathered.

Sources in the police service have told this paper that instead of government ensuring officers due for promotion are elevated; it is rather allowing some “senior officers due for retirement to continue on contract, thereby denying other officers of their promotions.”

A highly placed source in the police service confirmed that there is growing tension and consternation among personnel of the police service “because those due for promotion think they are being shortchanged by government. They are complaining that government is deliberately scheming to either deny or delay their promotions. They are not happy with government’s decision to reengage senior officer’s due for retirement on contract.”

These contract appointments by the Akufo-Addo administration, the source said, have angered many career officers in the state establishment, as they view it as impeding the chances of injecting fresh ideas into the running of the police service.

What is said to have exacerbated the tension among officers is the fact that, most of the potential beneficiaries of President Akufo-Addo’s soon-to-be rolled out plan were among those who feverishly condemned former President Mahama’s decision to reengage former IGP, Mohammed Alhassan on two year contract after he attained the 60 years retirement age.

According to some aggrieved top police officers who spoke to The aL-hAJJ on condition of anonymity, it was strange that such a directive could come from the President whose party advocated for non-engagement of retiring officers to the disadvantage of fresh limbs.

Among officers due for retirement this years but, who are reported being considered by the Akufo-Addo administration for contract renewal, this paper gathered, include Inspector General of Police, David Asante Apeatu; Director General of the Services Department of Ghana Police Service, COP Frank Adu Poku and others.

“The IGP will turn 60 on August 14 this year, COP Frank Adu Poku turned 60 only last week and others who will turn 60 this year have refused to go on leave because they have been promised by the presidency that they will be engaged on contract,” a senior police officer told The aL-hAJJ.

But another senior police officer denied these charges, claiming “if the IGP, for example, is compelled to retire next month, it could affect the transformational agenda he is rolling out in the service.”

According to the officer who pleaded anonymity, engaging retiring officers on contract “is not new in the police service,” citing former IGP, Mohammed Alhassan who benefitted from same arrangement under the erstwhile NDC government.

But the disgruntled officers insist, maintaining officers due for retirement will delay and/or deny other officers of their promotion and thereby lowering morale in the service.

“If government does go ahead to implement this decision to the chagrin of these officers, the Police service will collapse…what this mean is that, other officers due for retirement will not be motivated to give their all…and already there is tension in the country and we need a highly motivated police men and women to deal with the situation. The way things are going, we are likely to face security challenges in the country,” a source in the Police Service noted.

The tension in the police service adds to the already uneasy calm in the various military barracks and garrisons following the gruesome murder of young and enterprising Military Officer, Major Maxwell Adam at Denkyira Obuase in the Central region.

Following these developments, security experts are warning that the country may soon land in the ditch should agitations in the various security services degenerate.