The United Nations Peace Ambassador, Bishop Samuel Ben Owusu, has applauded the current Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for building on the foundation laid by his predecessor to maintain the standard.
He observed that there is discipline within the Ghana Police Service.
He credited the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, for instilling discipline within the service and lauded his successor for contoeuibg in that stead.
In a video message, Bishop Samuel Ben Owusu said that “Ghana is currently enjoying peace and stability, and we pray it continues, but I think that we need to credit the former IGP, Dr Dampare, for the discipline in the Police service.
“Dr Dampare ensured a high level of discipline within the Police service, and we need to be grateful to him. Even though there were some lapses, those of us in security analysis attest to the fact that Dr Dampare really laid a strong foundation of discipline. He created the foundation for the current IGP Yohunu to improve on it. We pray this continues.”
He further called on President John Dramani Mahama to appoint a substantive Defence Minister.
He makes the point that a nation without a substantive Defence Minister is in serious trouble.
For almost a year after the demise of the Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamh, who lost his life in the tragic helicopter crash that occurred last year, killing six people, Ghana has not had a substantive Defence Minister.
The current Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has been serving as the acting Defence Minister.
However, in a video recording, the UN Peace Ambassador Bishop Samuel Ben Owusu said that a substantive one should be appointed immediately.
He said, “The President and the security apparatus have also done well, but we are calling for a Defence Minister. A nation without a defence minister will be an issue. It is true that they are running affairs without a Defence Minister, but we should have one.
“Almost a year now, we haven’t had a defence minister. Isn’t it important to us? If it is not important to us and we can live without a defence ministry, then the entire defence ministry should be closed down.
“Why should we have a Ministry of Defence? I think it is really very important that we have a Defence Minister.”
“We commend the president for his work to ensure a peaceful country, but one of the risk factors is youth unemployment; it is still a big problem for us as a nation. If care is not taken, we can’t control it.”
