Avoid politicising police leadership appointments - Asantehene cautions officers
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned senior officers of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) against lobbying for police leadership appointments whenever there is a change in government.
He has warned that such political manoeuvring undermines the independence, discipline and professionalism of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), describing the practice as unhealthy and damaging to the institution.
“When governments change, I hear some of you lobbying to take positions even when there is an incumbent IGP. I hear that and I get to know that. Let us do it properly so that whoever comes know that seniority and qualified people will be able to take over and that should be the most important thing,” he said
The Asantehene made these remarks when he met the Police Management Board at the Police Headquarters in Accra, during his visit to the Police Headquarters in Accra yesterday (January 7)
Leadership succession
He stressed that leadership succession within the GPS must be handled properly and transparently, based on seniority, qualification and merit, rather than political connections.
He added that when due process was followed, government would also be in a better position to recognise and appoint the most qualified officers.
“Police management board can even recommend who is there to do it. Lobbying and using political persuasions to take positions wouldn’t help the police to be more independent,” the Asantehene cautioned.
He disclosed that he had personally spoken to the current President on the matter and had been assured that there would be no political interference in police leadership appointments.
“I believe strongly, having spoken to the current President, I am assured that he doesn’t want to interfere and that if you go through the process and you are qualified, you will be appointed,” he said.
Police professionalism
He praised the professionalism of police officers assigned to protect him, attributing their conduct to the training they had received, and stressed that policing should be seen as a calling rather than a job motivated by money.
“This profession must be a calling. If you don’t have the heart for it, I would advise, don’t go. It is not about money,” he said.
He urged the officers to serve with devotion, compassion and firmness in enforcing the law.
While commending the police, the Asantehene acknowledged challenges within the service, particularly misconduct by some personnel that damaged the image of the institution.
He criticised practices such as taking money from motorists instead of enforcing road safety regulations, warning that such actions contribute to accidents and loss of lives.
Chieftaincy matters
Touching on chieftaincy matters, Otumfuo explained that traditional disputes were resolved through lineage-based systems, not money or influence, stressing that no one would be allowed to buy chieftaincy titles to create confusion.
He cautioned the police against unnecessary involvement in chieftaincy matters, saying once a chief has been properly nominated and gazetted, the role of the police was to provide protection, not to take sides or issue directives that undermine traditional authority.
“If you take sides, it creates problems for the whole institution and creates problems for the police,” he warned.
He further assured the service of his continued moral support, stressing that while he held no political authority, he would always offer guidance in the interest of peace, professionalism and national stability.
