Take your hands off police after IGP appointment – Analyst to politicians

Fraud & Security Consultant, Richard Kumadoe, has advised politicians to desist from interfering with the activities of the Ghana Police Service after the appointment of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Mr Kumadoe believes it was time the security agencies operated independently without influence from politicians in the country with professionalism as the main benchmark.

“Politicians after appointment should and must take their hands off the functions of the agencies and the agency appointees should and must maintain a professional and independent outlook. In that way, their functions will be professional and independent applying international best practices,” the CEO of Richquest Consult stated in an interview with ClassFMonline.com.

With Mr Asante-Apeatu is due for retirement in a few months, several names have been suggested for his replacement, with the recommendation of various reforms to ensure the autonomy and efficiency of the police service.

The founding President of think tank Imani Africa, Mr Franklin Cudjoe, has suggested that “police personnel must vote for the next Inspector General of Police”.

Mr Cudjoe believes electing the police chief will reduce nepotism, collusion and undue political interference in the work of the security agency.

However, Mr Kumadoe disagrees. He is of the opinion that: “With the current structure we have, it’s the sole duty of the president in consultation with the police council and the council of state to appoint an IGP”.

He said Ghana has modeled its police service “on the UK system by having police commissioners instead of a central figure of an IGP and by so doing we are deepening the system of decentralization”.

He suggested that to solve the issue of political interference “we will need to intensify the independence of the security systems and agencies especially the police force”.

Mr Kumadoe further suggested an improvement in the security architecture which has been left unattended “for the past 30yrs”.

He said the police “must live by their professional ethics and standards” and the top hierarchy should “create a better system of reward and motivation to reform to attain international best standards”

He also wants a revision of the policy for the security agencies especially in the areas of training and recruitment.

He pointed out that the appointing authority of the next IGP should “select a person who is capable and has the stature to perform at the highest office” and consider competence over gender.