Isaac Ayemvoah, a communications team member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region, has defended President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to extend Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno’s contract by two years beyond his statutory retirement age.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Ayemvoah said the earlier presidential directive issued on April 2, which suspended contract extensions, was not a cancellation. “If you read the letter carefully, it said suspension. The last time I checked, suspension wasn’t cancellation,” he explained.
He argued that the suspension was intended to prevent abuse of the system and to ensure that contract extensions are granted only when a suitable replacement for a critical position has not been fully prepared.
Ayemvoah emphasized that high-level security appointments require informed judgment from the executive, as leaders have access to intelligence and risk assessments unavailable to the public. “When it comes to security issues, especially at that level, it is the preserve of the executive. Sometimes what they see from where they sit, you and I wouldn’t see,” he said.
He added that the Police Council reviewed the readiness for succession and concluded that the service still benefits from the IGP’s experience while grooming a future replacement. “The police council sat and looked through, and they still need to tap experience from this particular person. That’s why he could take the next two years, and by then someone would be ready to take up the leadership position,” he said.
Ayemvoah also cited the IGP’s neutrality under successive governments as a key reason for his retention. “An IGP who has served under the previous government and continues under the current one shows that he’s trustworthy. He goes for his job; he doesn’t go for politics,” he noted.
He stressed that the extension should not be seen as a reversal of the earlier suspension but as an application of an exception for critical sectors when transition preparations are incomplete. “What we did initially was a suspension of a particular action, not the cancellation,” he said.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
