As has been in the news lately, there has been a major shake-up of the leadership of the Ghana Police Service, which was announced on March 13, 2025.
The new change, made by President John Dramani Mahama, brought in Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
It also follows the removal of Dr George Akuffo Dampare from the topmost job in the Ghana Police Service.
The appointment of COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno did not just spark a debate as to why the purportedly efficient Dampare had to be replaced, but it also started conversations on why the president decided to settle on no other than Yohuno, who is soon to retire from the police service.
President of policy think tank, IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, and security expert, Prof Kwesi Aning, had earlier sought to block the removal of Dampare from his position as IGP in an effort to protect good governance and uphold the constitution.
In a report by 3news.com on March, 17, 2025, Franklin Cudjoe clarified his move, stating that “The petition was to ask the Supreme Court to determine whether, under the 1992 Constitution, the president has the authority to remove heads of key security agencies – such as the IGP, Chief Fire Officer, Director-General of Prisons, and Comptroller General of Immigration – unless on grounds of proven stated misconduct or misbehavior.”
Now, another dimension that has strongly emerged in public discourses remains the fact that the new IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, is almost due for retirement.
Kwame Owusu Danso, Host of ‘Good Morning Africa’ on Pan African TV, during a discussion on the matter with Alhassan Bashir Alhassan Fuseini, former MP for Sagnarigu, challenged the appointment of Yohuno as IGP, given that he is due for retirement in July, 2025.
He expressed concern over the feasibility of the IGP to adequately run the office by continuing unfinished policies of his predecessor, vis a vis rolling out his own visions within his limited time in office.
The question that is begging for an answer is – Will IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno lay down his tools once he reaches retirement in July? Or, will he enjoy the provision in law that allows for contract extension by the executive?
Some recent application of this law under former President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo include a one-year contract extension for retired Commissioner of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh.
COP Oppong-Boanuh, was appointed as the Inspector General of Police only two weeks to his 60th birthday, but was granted the extension in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante.
Another instance is the extension granted IGP David Asante-Apeatu. He was also given a two-year extension of service as IGP.
This extension followed a recommendation by the Ghana Police Service Council that Asante-Apeatu be granted a two-year extension of service with effect from August 15, 2017.
The Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, also had a two years extension in office as his contract was extended by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, according to a report by citinewsroom.com on June 20, 2024.
Asiedu was due for statutory retirement on August 1, 2024.
It, however, remains unclear if President John Dramani Mahama will activate the same legal provision in the case of IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, or proceed to appoint another IGP when Yohuno retires.
What the law says about extending the contract of a public servant who reaches the age of retirement during his tenure in office
The Public Civil Service Act 1993 (PNDCL 327) Amended in 1996 to add article 199(4) makes provision for the executive to extend the contract of a public servant who reaches retirement while in active service by not more than two years at a time.
Per Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the Civil Service Act 1993 (PNDCL 327) and the Labour Act of 2003 (Act 651), government workers must compulsory retire at the age of sixty (60).
However, an extension has legal backing in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, as amended in 1996 to add article 199(4), where its framers foresaw those public officers who get retired, after attaining the age of 60 years, may be engaged for a limited period of not more than two (2) years at a time but not exceeding five (5) years in all.
Background
COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno was sworn in on March, 14, 2025, after he was appointed Inspector General of Police by John Mahama on March 13, 2025.
In a statement by the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the president, in accordance with the constitution and the Council of State, made the appointment.
“President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Articles 91 and 202 of the 1992 constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, appointed Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the Inspector-General of Police.
“He replaces COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare. COP Yohuno brings forty years of experience to the position of IGP and is expected to oversee the modernization and transformation of the Ghana Police Service,” the statement said.
VPO/AE