Why IGPs tenure of office was extended

The decision by government to extend the tenure of office of Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan as IGP was meant to maintain the momentum of crime control, a statement on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has stated.

According to the statement on Thursday’s news commentary, Mr. Alhassan, who is supposed to proceed on terminal leave towards retirement early next year when he attains the compulsory retirement age of 60, “won government recognition…due to some initiatives and vibrancy he has brought into policing in Ghana.

“The decision to extend the IGP’s tenure by two years was in recognition of the great job he has done so far,” Deputy Interior Minister James Agalga explained in an interview.

But the decision to extend Mr. Alhassan’s tenure of office has been criticized in some circles, with security expert Dr. Emmanuel Kwasi Aning warning that the decision could create divisions within the Police Service.

Dr. Aning said in an interview that the President’s decision not to follow precedence and appoint a new IGP could have consequences for the nation’s internal security.

“Mohammed Alhassan would need a lot of diplomatic skills to be able to peacefully administer the service,” he said, adding that senior officers in the police service who may be unhappy with the development may begin to undermine the IGP.

This could create disunity in the Police Service, Dr. Aning stated.

Mr. Mohammed Alhassan was appointed as acting IGP in February this year and confirmed as substantive IGP in June.