Former Attorney General and Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has alleged that the appointment of Christian Tetteh Yohuno as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) was driven more by political considerations than merit.
Amidu claimed that Yohuno’s “negative baggage of old age” made him an ideal candidate for President John Dramani Mahama, who could exert influence over his decisions.
“President Mahama appointed Mr. Yohuno knowing very well that he had only a few months to retirement and would be susceptible to acting unlawfully to please his puppet master to secure a post-retirement contract,” Amidu said in an opinion piece.
Amidu contrasted this with appointments in the military high command, where younger officers were selected, giving them retirement stability while allowing the President to guide them politically without violating constitutional norms.
“The baggage Mr. Yohuno brought with him explains his penchant for acceding to unlawful and unconstitutional orders,” Amidu added.
According to the former Special Prosecutor, the IGP’s vulnerability extended beyond age. Yohuno allegedly ceded much of his operational and administrative authority to the National Security Coordinator, a police officer promoted twice within the same year.
“This effectively undermines the independence of the Ghana Police Service, which is meant to operate within the confines of the 1992 Constitution,” Amidu noted.
He warned that the precedent could erode public trust in law enforcement. “When operational authority is ceded to an individual answerable to the President rather than the law, citizens lose confidence that the police will protect their rights impartially,” Amidu stated.
The former AG urged reforms to ensure future police appointments prioritize constitutional compliance and operational independence, rather than political expediency.
