Security analyst Professor Kwesi Aning has raised concerns about the deep-seated political interference in Ghana’s security institutions.
According to him, this political interference threatens professionalism, discipline, and institutional independence in the public institutions, particularly the security services.
“Historically, politicians have politicized almost every facet of our public space. The security institutions are only just one of them, but because they carry lethal weapons and they protect the state at the peril of their lives.
“We’ve undermined this loyalty and professionalism and institutional ethos and independence for a very long time – so much so that there’s a certain uncertainty as to who goes home, when and how. And that is what we seek to get clarity and interpretation,” he said on JoyFM Top Story on Friday, March 14.
His comments come in the wake of a lawsuit filed a year ago, which seeks to establish clear guidelines for the appointment and removal of security officials.
According to him, security officers should not be dismissed arbitrarily unless there is just cause or they have reached the retirement age of 60
“The suit that was filed a year ago seeks to improve security governance and management in this country in which he to the state has been tested and to every single government has been proven when they are appointed into influential positions that except in cases where there is just cause, and if they are not above 60, then really there’s no cost to remove them.
“All that we are seeking for is a transparent approach and a certainty when one gets this job, you know that I can continue to deliver, but also that when the time comes for them to be removed, to be done in a decorous manner,” he explained.
His comment comes after he jointly filed a suit at the Supreme Court with IMANI Ghana, seeking to restrain President John Mahama from removing the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare and other heads of security agencies until an ongoing case relating to the matter is decided in May 2025.
According to the plaintiffs, the security heads in question would be unfairly treated if they were removed before the Supreme Court delivers its ruling.
“However, President Mahama relieved Dr. Dampare and appointed COP Christian Tetteh Yohonu as the new IGP, subsequently swearing him in on Friday, March 14.”
Prof Aning also commented on a viral video allegedly showing police officers spraying money on the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, COP Christian Tetteh Yohonu, stating that such incidents, if true, raise critical concerns about the discipline and ethical standards within the police service.
“I think we are already beginning to see it, in which spraying of money—I think the video that has gone viral, I don’t know if it is true, but were it to be so, that it raises fundamental questions about morality, discipline, and professionalism,” he remarked.
Commenting further, he expressed hope that the Supreme Court’s ruling on the case will bring much-needed clarity and could pave the way for constitutional reforms to prevent excessive executive influence in security appointments.
“Well, I think we have a fairly good chance with the constitutional review process, where the Supreme Court will rule in our favour. The constitutional review process may not have ended by that time, or even if it’s ended, it gives us an opportunity to look at the specific article that we have cited from the Constitution from 200 onwards, and to say, how do we clarify and make them more specific,” he added.
