Private legal practitioner, Martin Luther Kpebu, has stated that the position of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is inherently political, citing the Constitutional provisions guiding the appointment.
He argues that it’s unrealistic to expect a President to work with an IGP appointed by a previous administration as far as security is concerned.
According to him, every President prefers to work with persons they are comfortable with, when it comes to security.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Thursday, March 13, 2025, the lawyer noted that the issues related to the appointment together with the provision of security for the state makes it political.
“When it comes to those matters, usually, a President will appoint persons he is comfortable with because they help in providing security. Not just the personal security but the whole Ghana so to that extent, and other factors, it makes the appointment political.
“When you go to the Constitution, Article 202, it just says that the Inspector General of Police shall be appointed by the President acting in consultation with the Council of State,” he stated.
His comments come on the back of the replacement of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare by COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno as Inspector General of Police (IGP).
A statement issued by the presidency Thursday, March 13, 2025, and signed by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, stated that: “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.”
Many have called for reforms in the security agencies to ensure the appointment of their leaders is depoliticised. Currently, there is a matter at the Supreme Court by some Civil Society Organisations demanding the change in security chiefs by Presidents to be changed.
But in his analysis, Mr. Kpebu averred that until the police service is reformed, together with other security agencies, the appointment of the IGP will remain political.
“An IG (Inspector General) is largely in charge of internal security and that has a lot of political ramifications. An IG is a politician, let’s be very blunt. An IGP, the Ghanaian structure that we operate, is a politician, first class. So it’s unimaginable to say that a President should retain an IG appointed by the previous President for the entire four years, no, that’s not it.
“If we want to do such a thing, then we’ll have to restructure the police service. But as it stands now, the IG is a political appointee, no mistake about that. So, how would you saddle a President with the political appointee of his predecessor? How? It doesn’t happen that way, way. Let’s be very blunt. Let’s not make a mistake that it’s a professional body. The fact that it’s a professional body doesn’t mean it cannot be made partisan,” Kpebu indicated.
