The jostling for the top security job in Ghana has begun as the Inspector General of Police, David Asante Apeatu, gets set to retire in three months.
Ghana’s 28th IGP ends his extended service August 14, 2019, after his tenure was extended by a year in August 2017.
Who becomes the 29th?
For starters, there are at least 10 suitors who by their title as Commissioners of Police, are by rank suitable for the job in principle. But with political and professional idiosyncrasies at play, the rank would not be enough.
Age and even political posture are part of a mix of factors beyond professionalism. Myjoyonline.com profiles all 10 Commissioners of Police who could be tapped to take over.
COP Maxwell Sakipasgo Atingane, Commandant, Staff and Command College-Winneba, is set to retire this year.
COP Prosper Agblor is the Director General, Legal and Prosecution but is set to retire early 2020. With the IGP on contract beyond the statutory retirement age of 60, Prosper Agblor’s age may just be a number.
COP/ Beatrice Zakpaa Vib-Sanziri faces the same challenge of age as a disadvantage. The Director General of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau is also set to retire this year.
Vib-Sanziri in 2016 became the fifth female Commissioner of Police in the history of the force. She is also a member of the Police Management Board (POMAB).
COP/Dr. George Akuffo Dampare at 48 years is among the youngest Commissioners of Police and, according to seniority, ranks in the top half of the table of 11 Commissioners. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance and is the Director General in charge of Welfare.
COP/ Christian Tetteh Yohuno is the Director General at Motor Transport Traffic Department.
He was promoted to COP in January 2016. He was Accra Region Commander from 2013 until December 5, 2015, when he was appointed Director-General of Police Operations.
Christian Tetteh Yohuno was in 2011 awarded Grand Medal for his meritorious service in combating armed robbery and other criminal activities in the country. He is in his late 50s.
COP Kofi Boakye is the Director General charge of Research and Planning.
Kofi Boakye has a feared public reputation for his heroics in crime fighting while a police commander for Accra. He is also a former Ashanti Region Commander and was promoted to his current rank in June 2016. Calls for his elevation as IGP has made the rounds in the public at anytime the position has been available.
COP Akuribah Yaagy, Director-General National Patrol
He enjoyed a promotion to Commissioner of Police in August 2017, he was reported in November 2017 to have threatened to shoot any police officer who will not be able to recite the mission and vision of the Ghana Police Service (GPS). He has been Police Commander for Eastern Region and later Western Region.
COP David Ampah-Bennin, Director General for Special Duties.
The former Central Region Police Commander was moved to his current duties in March 2018. The Reverend Minister in 2014 launched a book on the Christian understanding of death. He is also set to retire in 2019.
COP Ken Yeboah is Director General in charge of Administration.
The former Ashanti Region Police Commander was promoted to his current rank in July 2017. He will retire in 2023. He has said while serving as DCOP and Northern Region Police Commander, he nearly lost his job after a photo of the Northern Regional Minister in a police vehicle went viral on Facebook and other social media networks.
COP Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department
COP Tiwaa Addo-Danquah has attracted public attention over her quick rise to her current rank. Between 2017 and 2019 she has been promoted thrice.
She turns 50 in August and retires in 2029. She is currently the Director General, Criminal Investigations Department and was the first female Commandant of the Ghana Police Command and Staff College (GPCSC).
She was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police (COP) in April 2019. Mrs Addo-Danquah was promoted to DCOP on November 1, 2017, and confirmed as CID boss on January 24, 2018, becoming the first female CID boss.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
