Changes At Top Police Command

Barring eleventh-hour rescission, the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Christian Yohunu, will head the Operations segment of the Ghana Police Service at the Police Headquarters.

With his appointment as Inspector General of Police, John Kudalor's position as Director General of Police Operations has become vacant, necessitating the posting of a replacement.

Certain movements are expected in the coming days, although earlier indication from the acting IGP suggested that the status quo would largely be maintained.

This is unlikely going to be the case, given his own movement and the need to fill the vacuum his elevation has created.

The position of Director General of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Directorate is vacant following the proceeding on terminal leave by COP Joana Osei-Poku. It would definitely require posting a replacement to this office and being of a COP rank, one of the schedule officers at the Police Headquarters would definitely be moved to the place.

The necessary movement of superior officers has been characterized by a heightened momentum of lobbying by those holding directorship positions and those below them.

Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE suggests that Commissioner of Police Rose Bio-Atinga, could be heading for the Interior Ministry to be in-charge of Small Arms - her wish for the topmost position of Inspector General of Police having been dashed.

The Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP) Prosper Agblor, could be giving way to COP James Oppong Boanuh.

The Director General in-Charge of Finance, COP Dr. George Akufo Dampare, could also be assigned a fresh schedule from his current position. It is   being speculated that he could be heading for the Greater Accra Regional Command as the Commander.

This particular movement has been flawed, given the fact that COP Dampare, being a schedule officer, should not be assigned a command previously held by a DCOP.

It is also interesting that his position could be offered an Assistant Commissioner of Police              in-charge of Finance at the CID headquarters, a certain Mr. Akolgu. Someone remarked, 'How can an ACP be moved to take over the responsibility of a COP?'

Such alterations in the Police Service are usual with the change in the headship of the internal security organization, empirical evidence of many years standing have showed.

It is the unusualness of schedule officers moving to portfolios previously held by their subordinates in a quasi-regimented organization which has attracted discourses among a section of cops.

Until the appropriate signals are transmitted, anxiety is the order at the police headquarters and its appendages with directors and commanders befuddled about what awaits them in the coming days.

Given the rate of lobbying, the aforementioned signals could suffer further alterations; the pressure not restricted to the acting IGP alone but outside the police headquarters.

By A.R. Gomda