The Herald has learnt of growing divisions within the Police Council, chaired by Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, over the search for a new Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to replace the incumbent, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who is scheduled to retire on December 27, 2025.
While some members of the Council are reportedly lobbying for Yohuno to remain in post and have written to President John Mahama in support of this, a silent majority are said to believe he should step aside to allow for a reset of the Police Service under new leadership, one that brings fresh ideas, motivation, innovation, and modern policing approaches that leverage technology to combat sophisticated crimes, including cybercrime.
Those pushing the President to grant the IGP a post-retirement contract are thought to be placing him in a potentially awkward position, risking his reputation as a leader who keeps his word, particularly after winning public approval for terminating post-retirement contracts across the public sector.
The upper echelons of the Police Service still reflect remnants of the Akufo-Addo-era hierarchy, including senior officers such as Yohuno, who served as Director-General of Police Operations before becoming Deputy IGP under the previous administration.
Yohuno had been expected to succeed George Akuffo Dampare and would likely have assumed the top position earlier, had Dampare been dismissed by the Akufo-Addo government.
Critics argue that the current structure indicates that there has been no significant shift in the country’s approach to internal security and crime prevention. Indeed, there has been little to no reshuffling among senior officers since Dampare’s removal.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Michael Nketia Frempong, the Director-General of Finance, remains in office on a two-year post-retirement contract granted by the Mahama administration. Rumours persist that Frempong made a substantial financial contribution to the NDC’s 2024 campaign, allegations that have led to speculation that his retention may be a case of “buying the role.”
Promotions within the service have also reportedly stalled, with claims that officers now receive “phone call promotions” where they are privately informed of their new rank and simply show up at work wearing the corresponding insignia.
The IGP’s recent trip to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) New York Field Office with the Director of Finance has also sparked controversy. Many within the service viewed it as a publicity exercise designed to persuade President Mahama to extend Yohuno’s tenure through a post-retirement contract.
Although the IGP’s team portrayed the trip as a “historic visit”, some insiders dismissed it as little more than a photo opportunity with a field officer rather than an engagement with top FBI leadership, which would have carried more weight.
According to the Police Administration, however, the visit formed part of a broader engagement with US law enforcement aimed at deepening operational partnerships and sharing best practices.
IGP’s meeting with Assistant Director-in-Charge Christopher Raia and his leadership team reportedly centred on strengthening joint efforts to address shared US–Ghana security priorities, including cyber-enabled fraud, intelligence-led policing, counterterrorism, and the use of technology to detect and prevent crime.
Yohuno was said to have emphasised the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to modern policing and international collaboration, stating:
“Partnerships like this reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect our people. The Ghana Police Service is dedicated to adopting advanced investigative tools and intelligence collaboration to prevent crime and safeguard the safety and trust of our citizens.”
However, many within and outside the Service have interpreted the move as a strategic effort to cling to the IGP position despite President Mahama’s firm stance against post-retirement appointments, a policy clearly outlined in a directive from the Jubilee House signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama.
The controversy deepened recently when it emerged that COP Michael Nketia Frempong, despite being on a post-retirement contract, still serves as Director-General of Finance. This revelation sparked ridicule of the Presidency on several police social media platforms.
The letter from Jubilee House, dated 2 April 2025 and titled “Suspension of the Grant of Contract Appointments”.
It stated, “The grant of post-retirement contract appointments to retired public service staff has been suspended with immediate effect. Consequently, all requests for such appointments will no longer be considered. Kindly take note of this directive and ensure strict compliance.”
Observers had questioned whether the government’s decision to retain Frempong sets a precedent for similar arrangements for other senior officers. At the time, COP Sebastian Atsu Wemegah was scheduled to retire on 6 August 2025, and COP Martin Kwaku Ayiih, whose retirement date of 28 June 2025 had already passed, remained in office until media scrutiny brought their status to light.
COP Okyere Darko Asumadu, who was also expected to retire on 11 October 2025, was caught in the middle of the controversy, with uncertainty surrounding whether he has now left the service.
In his first State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 27 February 2025, President Mahama announced the suspension of all post-retirement contract appointments across the public sector.
This was followed by the 2 April 2025 directive, signed by Dr Callistus Mahama, which reiterated that such appointments had been halted “with immediate effect” and warned all institutions to ensure full compliance.
“Consequently, all requests for such appointments will no longer be considered,” the directive stressed, “Kindly take note of this directive and ensure strict compliance.”
Source: theheraldghana.com
