Minister of Interior, Henry Quartey, is encountering resistance as he endeavors to rectify discrepancies in the 53rd Cadet Course for Senior Police Officers.
This resistance is allegedly marked by evasive tactics, notably under the leadership of embattled Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
Minister Henry Quartey, who unearthed significant irregularities in the selection process for participants in the senior officers’ course at the National Police Academy and Training School, ordered a halt back in February.
There are grave concerns that the actions of the Police Hierarchy leading up to the examination and selection of officers for the 53rd Senior Officers Course “has the potential to affect morale in the service as a whole”, part of the first paragraph of the Minister’s letter said with reference number SCR/VB 78/226/01 copied to the Chairman of the Police Service Council.
It is worth noting that similar “issues” occurred under IGP Dampare during the 51st Officer Cadet Training, which attracted the attention of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) two years ago.
In an effort to rectify the situation, the Minister, who announced a supplementary list, faces opposition from forces allegedly driven by “police higher-ups,” who resist the remedial efforts of the Ayawaso Central lawmaker.
The Minister seeks to rectify an anomaly whereby 300 officers were selected under dubious non-transparent circumstances, and another set of over 200 officers were “recommended by special arrangement” without considering their exam performance, which was supposed to be the basis for qualification, aiming for fairness for those legitimately left out.
Leading the criticism against the Minister is NDC ex Policeman Peter Toobu.
According to Mr Toobu, such announcements by the Minister are “unhealthy” and risk “tainting” what he referred to as Course 53, potentially hindering the professional development of cadets.
In a Facebook post, Mr Toobu criticized Mr Quartey, labeling him a “walking contradiction” for cautioning against inciting the public while making statements that could provoke tensions within the police force.
However, Mr Toobu has encountered fierce counterarguments on his social media page, with some allegations made against his person.
“Hon. Toobu please stop peddling the falsehood. What was in the Minister’s visit and comment? Or was that what you were doing for your party when you were in the office? I can see you are being chase by your own ghost
SMH — Is this another way to blackmail the Minister? You did same thing which got Former IGP Asante Appietu out of office. You are here again championing same blackmail agenda for someone I won’t mention here. Oh Gosh!! all these are MPs making laws for us in this country, why won’t the country retrogress ??
of all, you’ve made these BASELESS ACCUSATIONS without a single evidence to support your claims. Who in his right senses will believe you aside mentally restarted ones who apply NO logic to analyze issues. Mr. MP, if this is the strategy of your party just to make the Minister unpopular, then you are lost in the sea. I don’t blame you. I blame someone behind all these blackmail. But lemme tell you, the Minister is well focused on his mandates, these open blackmail will not wash because the Minister is well focused.
“You can bring your evidence so that we analyze it. Until then, no one takes you serious. We rather see you as an agent for blackmail,” he added.