The Minority leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised questions about the age of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, signalling that steps would be taken to dig further.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament in the presence of the new IGP who accompanied the Interior Minister to the chamber to brief the house on some urgent matters, Afenyo-Markin referenced the statement issued by the Minister of Government Communications announcing the IGP’s appointment.
According to him, the statement claimed that the new IGP had served in the Ghana Police Service for forty years.
The Effutu legislator is interested to know at what age the IGP entered the Ghana Police Service based on that information.
The new IGP, who’s said to be sixty years old, took over from COP George Akuffo Dampare who’s 55 years old and had a few more years to retire.
“The Minister in his answer, took the opportunity to introduce the new IGP. I want to congratulate him on his appointment. “Suffice it to say that in the statement from the Minister responsible for Government Communications, he told the country that the new IGP has spent forty years in the service. 40 years as a police officer, so at the right time we will calculate, whether he entered at age 20, 19 or 18, his age and all.
“That is just, by the way, I wish him. I am only doing the mathematics as to whether the IGP is going to retire very soon. But Mr Speaker, that’s beside the point.
Profile of COP Yuhono
With over four decades of law enforcement experience, Yohuno has held several leadership positions within the Ghana Police Service. His career has been marked by dedication to public safety, crime prevention, and professional excellence.
In July 2024, he was appointed Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, following the recommendation of the Police Council.
Before that, he served as Accra Central Divisional Commander from 2007 to 2009, doubling as the Accra Regional Operations Commander. He later became the Deputy Accra Regional Commander and was promoted to Regional Commander in 2013.
In December 2015, he was appointed Director-General of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department before being reassigned as Director-General of Administration in 2016.
His contributions to Ghana’s security landscape have been widely recognized. In 2011, he was awarded the Grand Medal for his efforts in combating armed robbery and other criminal activities.
He received a special promotion to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) in January 2012 and was later elevated to Commissioner of Police (COP) on January 1, 2016, by President John Mahama.
COP Yohuno’s educational background reflects his commitment to professional development.
He studied at Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School before earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Ghana and an Executive MBA in Project Management from the Institute of Professional Studies (now UPSA).
As he assumes office, COP Yohuno faces the critical task of strengthening law enforcement, improving police professionalism, and restoring public confidence in the Ghana Police Service.
His leadership will be key in tackling crime, enforcing discipline within the force, and implementing reforms to enhance operational efficiency.
With his vast experience and strategic vision, COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno is expected to lead the Ghana Police Service into a new era of efficiency, accountability, and transformation.
