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05.02.2009 Politics

Rawlings To Give Approval On Who Becomes Our Next IGP

By The Statesman
Rawlings To Give Approval On Who Becomes Our Next IGP
05.02.2009 LISTEN

Even as legal experts prepare to take on the Mills administration for the 'illegal' dismissal of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police, information reaching The Statesman indicates that five top police officers have so far been named for consideration in respect of the position of the Inspector General of Police.

It will be recalled that President John Evans Atta Mills, apparently prompted by demands from former President Rawlings, caused the immediate retirement of the IGP, Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong and the Chief of the Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lt. General J B Danquah.

Prof. Atta Mills consequently appointed Mr. Acheampong"s deputy, Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, as the Acting IGP - a decision described by some legal experts as unconstitutional as it was not taken in consultation with the Council of State (which is yet to be put in place).

Sources close to Prof Mills' "cabinet' disclosed the names as Mrs. Mills-Robertson; M A Alhassan, Western Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service who served with the United Nations for several years; W K Aboa, former Director of the Ghana Immigration Service; Paul Quaye, who once served on the Police Council and ACP Kofi Boakye, whose reinstatement into the Ghana Police Service with full benefits after serving nearly three years of interdiction has been stalled by the absence of a Police Council.

Our source intimated that the names came up during a secret 'cabinet' meeting, and that whoever would be appointed as the new IGP would have to be approved by Mr Jerry John Rawlings, who is the founder and father of the ruling National Democratic Congress.

'It is our father Jerry Rawlings who will give his final blessing on the one he considers to be his favourite before that person can be named as the IGP,' the source posited.

He further told this paper that the dossiers of all the five persons were seriously scrutinized at the meeting, with intent to narrow down the list.

Regarding Mr. Alhassan, those at the meeting wondered if he was really abreast with events in the country, having been away on a UN mission for many years.

Mrs. Mills-Robertson's media relations were said to be very poor, although there was no doubt about her competence.

ACP Kofi Boakye was seen as a competent police officer who commands high respect in the Service and among politicians of all persuasions.

'It was a strong decision that cordial relations with the private media should be one of the determining factors for the choice of the new IGP,' the source underscored, adding that 'the Mills administration has realized the power that the independent media wield and so wants to relate better with them this time around than the Rawlings regime did.'

Attempts to contact DSP Kwasi Ofori, Director, Police Public Relations, for confirmation or otherwise of our information, did not yield fruit.

At 5.05pm he was called on his cellular phone but he did not pick the calls.

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