The John Dramani Mahama government has shot itself in the foot with the extension of the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) tenure of office.
The government, in a memo announced in April 2025, indicated that no such contract extensions will be granted.
The memo read, “The grant of post-retirement contract appointments to retired public service staff has been suspended with immediate effect.
Consequently, all requests for such appointments will no longer be considered.
Kindly take note of this directive and ensure strict compliance.”
However, in November 2025, the president granted a two-year extension to the current Inspector General of Police, who is expected to retire as the year closes.
This contract extension is a clear contradiction of the government’s position months ago, which won them applause from Ghanaians who were optimistic that change had finally come in the governance of the country.
To many, the government has demonstrated a lack of principles and respect for Ghanaians.
Kennedy Ocloo who is one of the propenents of the current government has lost trust with the current action taken by the John Dramani Mahama-led administration.
In a post shared via social media, he said “It is easy to take the people for granted, and lose goodwill as well. April, you tell the people, NO CONTRACTs appointments when one is due for retirement…
…November, you extend an appointment. This is to say Mahama should go for a 3rd term, right?”.
Agyemang Duah Kweku Jr. who has also in the past defended the current government and supported their actions through his advocacy on social media also expressed his disdain for the decision to maintain the current IGP for the next two years.
His post on the matter read “Principles Yaamutu.
Some of these inconsistencies are what kill public confidence in elected officials.
Why do we waste time swearing oaths when we are quick to break them?
Why do we issue rules when we do not enforce them?
This will be one of the many cardinal sins of this government irrespective of the rationalization we will want to give it”.
Other Ghanaians have expressed similar sentiments and are shocked that a government that promised to do things differently in the country will continue to make decisions that contravene their own position.
