Security Expert urges Acting IGP to focus on intelligence training
A Security Expert has urged the newly appointed (acting) Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh to devote special attention to intelligence training.
Mr. Paul Coonley Boateng, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Africa Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (ACSIS), said the nature of crime and the general security situation in the country required intelligence to be ahead of criminals.
Speaking exclusively to The Ghana Report on Tuesday, Mr. Boateng said, “The Acting IGP must focus on intelligence training so as to be able to fight the seemingly increasing level of crime in the country.”
The Security Expert urged the Acting Inspector General of Police to establish very cordial relations with his subordinates to enable him carry out various programmes and operations within the service.
He further urged the Police Council to allow the country’s IGPs to work freely, devoid of interference adding that various forms of interference on them has had adverse effects on the performance of past Police Chiefs.
“If the Police Council does not allow the IGP to perform, there is no way he can perform. I will urge the Police Council to give our IGPs the room to operate as professional persons,” Mr. Boateng observed.
The Acting IGP, the Security Expert said, “is a man of integrity and a very professional police officer” who should be given the chance to do his work professionally.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday asked the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu to proceed on leave with immediate effect.
Until a substantive IGP is appointed, President Akufo-Addo directed Deputy IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh to act in his stead.
A press statement signed and issued by the Director of Communications at the Office of the President, Eugene Arhin, said: “The President thanked him for the many years of service to the country, and wished him well in his retirement.”
Former IGP Asante-Apeatu was due for retirement from the Ghana Police Service on Wednesday, August 14, 2019.
Acting IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh was born in 1958 in at Aboabo No.1, Dormaa District in the then Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. He obtained his GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels at the Dormaa Secondary School, Dormaa Ahenkro (1977, 1979).
Mr. Oppong-Boanuh is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law. He was called to the Bar and enrolled as a member of the Ghana Bar Association in 1984. COP Oppong Boanuh also holds a Masters in Human Rights from the University of Education, Winneba (2015) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Law and Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon (1982).
His career as a law enforcement officer began years later in 1988 when he joined the Ghana Police Service. He did two years at the Ghana Police Training School and the Ghana Police Academy which included fieldwork at the Accra Central Police Division, graduating in 1990. During his time with the Ghana Police Service, he held several command and staff positions including Chief Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of Police (1990-1996); Director-General/Welfare, Director-General/Human Resources; Regional Commander, Director-General/Legal and Prosecutions and Deputy IGP.
He has worked in the United Nations Mission in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) in 1994 and with the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) from 2001 to 2002.
From November 2004 to March 2005, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS). He also served as acting Police Commissioner and head of the Police component of AMIS.
On August 19, 2010, he took up duties as Police Commissioner to the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on 19 August 2010. He succeeded South African Micheal Fryer.
In October 2018, he was granted a one-year contract service as Deputy Director-General of the Police effective October 8, 2018, to October 7, 2019, by President Akufo-Addo.
On Monday, July 22, 2019, he was appointed the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) by President Akufo-Addo.
COP Oppong Boanuh is also on the 10-member Ghana Police Service Council.
He has attended several professional courses and training programmes, both at home and abroad, including the Strategic Leadership Course at the Police Staff and Command College, Bramshell in the United Kingdom.
He is married with three children.