I have no hand in promotion of police chief - Veep

The Vice President John Dramani Mahama has denied any hand in the promotion of an Assistant Commissioner of Police at the Police Hospital.

In a press statement issued in Accra on Wednesday and signed by the spokesperson for the Vice President, John Abdulai Jinapor, ACP Zakaria's rise in rank to Deputy Commissioner of Police was among several others sanctioned by former President Kufuor on 6 January, 2009, the eve of the day the new administration assumed power.

The statement particularly referred to a publication by the Daily Guide that suggested that there is "disquiet" at the Police Hospital as a result of the promotion.

"We wish to state that this allegation are not only untrue but has no bases as being suggested by the paper and therefore wish to set the records straight.

"That ACP/Dr. Zakaria petitioned the then NPP government to be promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, subsequently His Excellency the former President of the Republic of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor approved of his request and officially instructed he is promoted to the said rank on the 6th of January, 2009.

"This decision preceded the coming into power of the National Democratic Congress Government on the 7th of January, 2009, it would be recalled the H.E. Presdie3nt Mills instructed all promotions be suspended until the new police council was reconstituted, the new police council decided to re-affirm the earlier decisi0on of Ex-President Kuffuor to promote Dr. Zakakria among others to the rank of DCOP after a critical assessment of their records," it said.

The statement said "the sitting vice president had no hand in the promotion of Dr. Zakaria to the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of Police. All previous deliberations and official correspondence in respect of this subject matter easily be verified from the records of the police administration."

"H.E. the Vice-President has always upheld the principle of professionalism, skill, experience, qualification and performance as the hallmark for all appointments and would never renege on his belief in this philosophy."

The vice president also cautions the media against wrong reportage, adding "as much as H.E. believes in the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech, he believes that the media ought to be thorough in their work to establish their credibility."