Top Security Chiefs Go Partisan
…Former IGP, CID Boss, Kofi Boakye Join Opposition Campaign
Even though this year’s general election is yet to peak, some retired senior security chiefs, mainly from the Ghana Police administration, have openly shown their political affiliation by joining the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign, led by its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
Key on the list are former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Alhassan, former Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Rtd Bright Oduro and retired Commissioner of Police (COP), Nathan Kofi Boakye.
The Anchor is reliably informed, there are several others, including those from the Ghana Armed Forces, who are lacing their boots either to join the NDC or the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP),when the campaign peaks.
For now, it is unclear the motive behind their sudden decision to openly join the campaign train to show their faces, but speculations are that the three top former police chiefs have been promised juicy appointments in the event the NDC wins the December poll.
This paper’s sources say, the position they were promise dare so tempting that they could not resist them for anything other than to join the campaign and labour for it.
The three have since joined Mr. Mahama in his ‘Building the Ghana We Want’ tour, which is currently in the Eastern Region.
Last Monday, photos and videos of Mr. Kofi Boakye emerged on the internet with Mr. Mahama in Kumasi during the NDC flagbearer’s ’24-hour economy walk’ in the Ashanti Region.
In less than a week, other photos have surfaced where the ex-officers were sighted in a meeting of Mr. Mahama while on his tour.
COP Kofi Boakye
Mr. Kofi Boakye’s close relationship with former President Mahama is an open secret.
A3news.com report sighted speculated that Kofi Boakye is interested in becoming a running mate, even though The Anchor’s impeccable sources have hinted that Mr. Mahama is keen on repeating the Mahama-Jane ticket.
The report said sources within the former security chiefs hinted that there are a lot more former retired service chiefs, who have approached John Mahama to assist him in his bid to become president.
Mr. Kofi Boakye, who turned 60 last year, was seen at vantage points during the walk and at some point, spotted chatting with the aide to Mr. Mahama, Joyce Bawah Mogtari.
His birthday, which coincided with his retirement in April 2023, was celebrated in a grand style with many, including the brother of Mr. Mahama, Ibrahim Mahama, in attendance.
Prior to his retirement, Kofi Boakye served as the head of the Ghana Police Service’s Legal and Prosecution Division.
Previously, he had been speculated as one of the possible candidates for the IGP position under President Akufo-Addo, but when the time came, the opportunity was given to Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, who is often touted as one of the best police chiefs so far.
Having benefitted nothing politically prior to his retirement, the respected COP Kofi Boakye appears to be trying his luck, hence his recent association with the NDC and Mr. Mahama.
IGP Alhassan
In the case of Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, many are not surprised about his association with the former President.
Aside from coming from the northern part of the country, Mr. Alhassan was appointed acting and substantive IGP by Mr. Mahama on June 15, 2013.
The now 70-year-old was deputy IGP to Paul Tawiah Quaye, who was, at the time, appointed by late President John Evans Atta Mills as IGP.
His concept of contemporary, innovative and proactive policing was highly praised by officers and the public.
It was during his time the Visibility Patrol Unit, which has today increased police presence and accessibility to the general public, was initiated.
COP Bright Oduro
Unlike Kofi Boakye and Alhassan, COP Bright Oduro, the former Director-General of the CID, appears to be the peeved one.
According to reports, he was removed from office in 2017 in a document signed by the then IGP, David Asante Apeatu, and replaced by his deputy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah.
He was subtly asked to proceed on his terminal leave, pending his retirement in January 2018.He served for a period of 29 years.
COP Oduro, whose work did not please the then new administration, according to reports, was sacked as a result of a series of petitions filed against him in connection with land-related issues, particularly land guards.
Outspoken Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, was one of the people who expressed open joy in the ousting of COP (retired) Oduro.
The failed presidential aspirant of the NPP said he did not regret making damning allegations against the former CID boss.
Though, he said, he was not responsible for his ‘dismissal,’ he was happy because COP Oduro was championing land guard activities in the country.
But Bright Oduro at the time said he was unfairly pushed out of the Police Service.
He is on record to have said he was not given a fair hearing over allegations that he was protecting activities of people suspected to be land-guards who were terrorizing residents of Accra.
He had said, “I don’t think that I deserve to be told to go on leave in such an abrupt manner because there was no reason for me to proceed on leave except that I have heard somewhere that I am pending retirement and I have an accumulated leave and therefore I should proceed on leave. I have no idea why I was asked to proceed on leave except what I read in the Daily Guide that I am not managing land-guard issues well. Kennedy Agyapong has even been waging relentless verbal assault on me since April; three months into my appointment as Director General, and I believe the reason to go on leave stems from this verbal assault that links me to land-guards.”
“Who are these land-guards that I associate with? There are so many questions about this thing. It should have been well responded to and I should have been given the opportunity to respond to them. I do not think it’s fair for anyone to ascribe those things to me. When the Miotso incident happened last year, I was not the Director General, and as I speak to you, the docket sits at the AG’s office so why would he mention it?” He contended.
Source: Anchorghana.com
