Professor Ransford Gyampo, an Associate Professor at the University of Ghana has called for the Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh, to retire.
Speaking during a discussion, he said the IGP must retire to allow other officers to fill the position.
Professor Gyampo said the continuous stay of a retired IGP in office could demoralise the rank and file of the Ghana Police Service. He further averred that the IGP being in service even after he has crossed his retirement is a disincentive to hardwork.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, confirmed Oppong-Boanuh as the substantive IGP with a two-year contract extension in October 2019 .
Touching on the extension,;Professor Gyampo said post retirement contracts become disincentive in the sense that,;it does not give upcoming officers the opportunity to also fill certain position since the retired officer is still in office.
“I think that we should begin to move away from the kind of things;that we do that undermines institutional morale. The practice of allowing people to stay on when they’ve reached retiring age;while you have others who can takeover is a disincentive to hard work.”
Prof Gyampo
According to him, the state of insecurity in certain parts of the country could have been deliberately orchestrated by some of the officers to send a certain message to the IGP.
The IGP in the last few days has come under public backlash over the state of insecurity in some parts of the country with the recent being a bullion van attack in broad daylight. The backlash came from a “we are not in Heaven” comment which he made in this regard.
We’re not in Heaven statement, unfortunate
Commenting on the IGP’s statement,;he said the IGP in commiserating with the family made a fantastic statement but however made a statement which added a certain twist and angle that he felt was unfortunate.
“I felt it was a disrespect to the sensibilities of the people there. We know we are not in Heaven. We don’t need any sooth sayer to tell us that we are not in Heaven. He could have made his speech without the statement that ‘Its only in Heaven that we don’t have crimes.’ “
Prof Gyampo
Also speaking during the discussion,;Chief Editor for the New Crusading Guide, Kweku Baako,;said authorities must put in efforts to tackle some of the issues that have brought about the current state of security in the country.
He said he did not believe we are in the state of insecurity but rather,;the nation is having issues of insecurity. He then called for the equipment of the Police and security agencies across the nation.
“They should be given the equipment that they desire. Perhaps some are being given but that’s not enough. They should increase the kind of training too that they give to those who go into those kind of services.”
Prof Gyampo
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