[ 2016-07-28 ]

Mr Kwasi Addai-Odike

Odike's IGP election idea recipe for chaos - David Agbee
A Governance and Security Expert has asked the
2016 presidential candidate of the United
Progressive Party to rethink his proposed idea of
allowing police officers to elect their own
Inspector General of Police.

This is after Mr Kwasi Addai-Odike at the
party’s campaign launch said a UPP –led
administration will ensure an IGP is elected by
police officers instead of the usual appointment
by the President.

Article 5 (1) of Ghana’s constitution states
that “there shall be a President of the Republic
of Ghana who shall be the Head of State and Head
of Government and Commander-in Chief of the Armed
Forces of Ghana.”

But the UPP flag bearer insists election of an
IGP would be the best option for the country
because “when the president appoints IGP, he
always work in favor of the sitting president, we
want the police administration to be autonomous to
work without fear or favor or any influence from
any power that be.”

However discussing the issue with Kapital News,
David Agbee said the UPP leader must reconsider
his ideas.
“I think that he has not been able to educate
himself as far as the constitution of this country
is concerned.”

He said the only way Mr. Odike could carry out
his idea, is through constitutional amendment,
because as far as the constitution exists, the
president is mandated to appoint the ÍGP and
going contrary to it would amount to disrespect to
the laws of the land.

Mr Agbee further indicated that even when the
constitution is amended, there would still be some
key considerations to make, so that “it will not
cause any chaotic situation as far as policing is
concerned because one of the key things we know in
security especially in police is that, you have to
respect your authority so if an appointment has to
be done by the police officers themselves, it is
going to bring some kind of confusion within the
police administration’s point of view.

He opined that the idea could be implemented when
the constitution is amended, or when a committee
is set up to deal with it, otherwise it will cause
chaos in the police administration and the country
as a whole.

Source - kapital971.com

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