Christian Tetteh Yohuno the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has clarified his recent statement which suggested Bawku youths will be given priority in police recruitment if they lay down their arms.
The IGP has since come under a public backlash following the statement after a video of his interaction with residents went viral.
According to IGP Yohuno, his statement was targeted at decentralising the recruitment process to include remote and conflict-affected areas.
The IGP in his clarification stated, “Many times we have recruitment centralised at the national headquarters, and then we are not able to get the full benefit of a regional balance of people being recruited. I have seen that there is a desire to get the job done,” he said.
“I am giving them the assurance that they should put down their arms. We have a lot of people in the police service now who came from this area, and we realise that they have helped a lot in the discharge of their duties as officers.”
“The assurance we gave to them was that ‘put down your weapons, and when it comes to recruitment, we will give you the advantage to participate, go through the normal process.’ I didn’t say anything wider to maybe show the requirement, but it looks as if the media is reporting something different; they will go through the normal process,” he added.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the minority Chief Whip has fired shots at Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) after he sweet-talked the youths in Bawku with Ghana Police Service recruitment.
According to the IGP Yohuno, should the Bawku youths lay down their arms, they will be recruited into the Ghana Police Service.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh addressing a press conference stated the IGP comments are out of place.
The minority chief whip stated, “The comment of the IGP this is purported to be his major public statement ever since he was appointed. And maybe he made that statement just on the spur of the moment, but it is clearly an unfortunate statement.
“It is most unfortunate to say that if you lay down your arms, you’ll be considered for recruitment. It is out of place. If any other person said this, yes, we may not attach seriousness. But coming from the IGP and the ramifications of that statement it is critical,” Annoh-Dompreh said.
“Does it mean that people from other parts of the country will also just fight, and then when they lay down their arms, they will be considered for recruitment into the police service?” he asked.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II mediation process will deliver lasting peace in Bawku.
President Mahama at the Graduation Parade of the Ghana Military Academy revealed that the Otumfuo has assured him the mediation process will resume next week when he returms from his brief visit abroad.
Speaking at the Graduation Parade of the Ghana Military Academy on Friday, April 11, 2025, President Mahama detailed, “The Ghana Armed Forces is engaged in several threats to maintain peace and security in our nation. One major flash point is the Bawku area. Only two days ago, a situation that took place in the market triggered an unfortunate loss of life and criminal vandalism of property. I wish to emphasise that nobody gains from this conflict and insecurities”.
“We have triggered the Otumfuo mediation process, which has all the stakeholders to ensure a roadmap towards peace. I am assured by the Asantehene that the process will resume next week when he returns from his brief visit abroad,” he stated.
