Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has championed the passing of a law to ensure the heads of security agencies, particularly the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have a fixed term of office.
His positions comes at a time where an injunction filed by IMANI Africa and Professor Kwesi Aning, sought to prevent President John Dramani Mahama from dismissing the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
Despite the legal challenge, the Jubilee House has confirmed Dr. Dampare’s removal as part of ongoing security sector reforms under the Mahama administration.
Speaking in an interview, Peter Lanchene Toobu argued that the current process of appointing and dismissing security heads is often politically influenced.
He emphasized that implementing a fixed tenure would ensure stability and continuity within the Ghana Police Service, regardless of changes in government.
“If the Ghanaian people think that this way of doing things is not the best, let’s try to find a security of tenure for the Inspector General of Police. We will go by new legislation, we will go by some repeals of laws, we will go by constitutional amendment to see what we can do by a new line of thinking, a new legislation to appoint and disappoint. Probably by then, we will be establishing some security of tenure for the IGP.
“I will support the idea that we should get to a point as our democracy grows, that these heads of security agencies should have some level of security of tenure as they are appointed,” he stated.
In a statement by the Minister of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President, in accordance with the Constitution and the Council of State, appointed COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the new Inspector General of Police.
“President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Articles 91 and 202 of the 1992 constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, appointed Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the Inspector-General of Police.
“He replaces COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
“COP Yohuno brings forty years of experience to the position of IGP and is expected to oversee the modernization and transformation of the Ghana Police Service,” the statement said.
