Security Expert Calls For A Stronger Police Council To Support New IGP

A security expert at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre (KAIPTC) has called for a stronger oversight institution in the Police Council to enable it function as optimally as it is supposed to be.

Dr Emmanuel Kwesi Aning says in this regard, the Center is willing to help the Council, its Chair Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Asante Appeatu to improve the performance of the Council.

Commenting on President Nana Akufo-Addo's appointment of Asante Appeatu as the new IGP on Joy FM's Newsnite programme, he lauded the nomination adding it is a good choice.

According to him, Appeatu's wide domestic and international experience and exposure would drive his motivation to bring best practices to bear in the Ghana Police Service.

He lauded the incoming IGP’s listening ear, which he said would work in his favour to reach great heights in the Service.

He credited immediate IGP Kudalor for leaving behind a strong police service with his open and consensual leadership.

“Mr Kudalor was driven by the desire to absolve different opinions in the service. So Mr Appeatu inherits a Service that is coherent, that needs leadership and guidance.

"I think his own desire to bring the Ghana Police Service into the 21 Century driven by the values of transparency, accountability and democratic policing will serve him well,” he said.

Mr Aning disclosed that there is jubilation in several police quarters regarding the appointment as many deemed it as a good choice for the Service and have greeted it with lots of optimism with the promise that Ghanaians would witness a well improved policing.

He dismissed the questions surrounding Mr Appeatu’s performance in the case of the Ghanaians killed in The Gambia, some narcotic cases, the murder of Ghana Commercial Bank boss as well as the killing of women in Accra describing the as only “questions in the air.”

He said the questions Ghanaians should be asking of the forensic scientist is what he brings to the table in response to the "even more difficult challenges that as Ghanaians we are facing."

"More importantly, we should be asking how is going to transform the phase of more 25,000 organization into a proactive efficient one...we have a man who knows his forensic science and has dealt with small arms which make him a rounded person."

He advises IGP Asante Appeatu to prioritise are transnational crime, narcotics, human trafficking, small arms during his tenure.

“He needs to also quickly educate the newly appointed ministers on how to use their laptops, cell phones, how to shred their papers and how to ensure that state secrets are kept under tight wraps," he added.