The Objective Media Forum, a non-political group has issued a statement to slam persons agitating against the extension of the Deputy Inspector General of Police’s contract.
The forum in its statement said, the president extended the contract of Mr James Oppong-Boanuh in accordance with Article 119 Clause 4 of the 1992 constitution, which provides that: “Notwithstanding clause (1) of this article, a public officer, who has retired from the public service after attaining the age of 60 years, may, where the exigencies of the service require, be engaged for a limited period of not more than two years at a time but not exceeding five years in all and upon such other terms and conditions as the appointing authority shall determine.”
The forum has therefore cautioned Ghanaians to desist from the partisan approach in discussing the matter and allow the appointed Deputy IGP to work. The statement described the Deputy IGP as a competent person who has gone through the ranks and garnered the needed experience for the job.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended the contract of Deputy Inspector General of Police, COP James Oppong Boanuh by one year, MyNewsgh.com can exclusively report.
The former Director-General in charge of Police Administration attained the mandatory retirement age on October 8, 2018 but was asked to stay on by virtue of the fact that his services were still needed by the police administration and the country.
A letter dated October 4, 2018 and signed by the Nana Asante Bediatuo, Executive Secretary to the President on the contract extension read in part “With reference to your letter dated 17th September 2018, and a Memo dated October, 2018, from the Minister for the Interior on the subject matter above, I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Republic has granted you a one-year contract of service as Deputy Director-General of Police, effective 8th October 2018, to 7th October 2019.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you once again. Kindly indicate your acceptance or otherwise of this appointment, within 14 days of receipt of this letter. Please accept the President’s best wishes”
Read Below the full statement
The Objective Media Forum has followed with keen interest the unfortunate attacks on the president following the extension of the contract of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh.
The reactions following his appointment and extension of contract by a year is not only reckless but a deliberate attempt to create unnecessary tension in the police administration. President Akufo-Addo is mandated by law to extend the contract of security officials and has not erred by this action he took.
Per Article 199 Clause 4 of the 1992 Constitution as amended by Section 6 of the 1992 Constitution Act 527, 1996 (Amendment), the President has the prerogative to extend the service of a public officer on reaching the retirement age of 60 years. Clause 4 of the amended Act provides that:
“Notwithstanding clause (1) of this article, a public officer, who has retired from the public service after attaining the age of 60 years, may, where the exigencies of the service require, be engaged for a limited period of not more than two years at a time but not exceeding five years in all and upon such other terms and conditions as the appointing authority shall determine.”
We have to commend the appointment of the Deputy IGP because for years, we have not had any person appointed for the position. The Deputy IGP position, which is part of the Police Service Regulations under Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 76, has been vacant for many years. Mr James Oppong-Boanuh is not qualified for the job but experienced.
He has held over 134 positions out the 18 available in the police administration. He has enormous experience from police management and filed command, He has also worked with the United Nations/Peacekeeping Mission, Investigations and prosecutions.
It was under his watch that the police headquarters saw reorganization by introducing the decentralization and giving each schedule officer a secretariat with its own staff including a staff officer.
As Deputy Police Commissioner for AMIS in Darfur, he led the Advance Team to set up the police component of the mission from scratch and his team also drafted the CONOPS for the police component.
These are but few of his achievements we wish highlight. His Masters in Human Rights, from the University of Winneba, B-Ghana School of Law, Bachelor of Arts among others makes a perfect candidate for the job.
We wish to conclude that the Deputy IGP should be allowed to work without any hindrance.
