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Introduction
When news broke that President John Dramani Mahama had approved a two-year tenure extension for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, it sparked an immediate national conversation.
To the Police Council, the extension reflects continuity and confidence in Yohuno’s leadership. To critics, it reopens old anxieties about stagnation in promotions, opaque succession planning, and the politicisation of security leadership.
But beyond emotion and politics lies an essential question: what does the law actually say, and has the legal framework changed?
This explainer dissects the issue through three lenses: the law, historical precedent, and expert assessment from two leading security analysts who spoke to DUBAWA: Nana Appiah and Richard Kumadoe.
What the Law says and how it has changed
The Old Rule: A Strict Retirement Limit
Under Ghana’s general public service framework, including the Police Service:
- Retirement is compulsory at age 60, or
- After 35 years of service, whichever occurs first.
For decades, this standard applied to all officers, including IGPs. This meant that an IGP approaching 60 could be replaced even mid-term, creating uncertainty and limiting continuity.
The Special Rule for IGPs: A Fixed Four-Year Term
Section 7(6) of the Police Service Act provides that the position of IGP carries a fixed four-year tenure.
This provision, however, clashed with the retirement rule when an IGP reached the retirement age before completing the four-year term.
What this means in practice:
- The IGP’s four-year tenure now overrides the retirement-age rule.
- Once appointed, the IGP is guaranteed to complete their term.
- No supporting law has been published to justify a long post-retirement tenure.
- The extension relies solely on executive discretion.
Public records from the Fourth Republic onward show that tenure extensions beyond age 60 have been rare exceptions.
The Most Documented Case: David Asante-Apeatu
- Was due to retire on 14 August 2017.
- Received a two-year extension approved by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
- Extension formally communicated by the Police Council.
Also, IGP COP (Rtd) James Oppong-Boanuh
- James Oppong Boanuh was confirmed as the substantive Inspector General of Police (IGP) despite having passed the retirement age of 60.
- His appointment received the Council of State’s endorsement, as required by the constitution, to either confirm or reject the nomination.
- COP Oppong Boanuh has been acting as the boss of the police hierarchy since the retirement of David Asante Apeatu in 2019.
The Yohuno Extension: Expert Views From Nana Appiah & Richard Kumadoe
Security experts Nana Appiah and Richard Kumadoe both shared their assessments with DUBAWA. Their perspectives add nuance to the public debate. According to Nana Appiah, “This extension did not surprise me.” “It was not only the IGP who had his retirement stay extended. Some commissioners who should have retired earlier this year are still at post… so his extension was no surprise.”
He argued that the Police Council’s recommendation and the President’s approval were consistent with internal precedents, and, lastly, that internal succession and morale were also consistent with internal precedents. Appiah raised concerns about the ripple effect of extensions: “If you keep someone for two additional years, four or five commissioners who are next in line will retire before the vacancy opens. They leave feeling the system has not been kind to them.”
This, he says, affects promotions, succession planning, morale among senior commissioners, and institutional renewal.
Regarding Yohuno’s performance, Appiah acknowledged improvements in operational policing, a strong focus on intelligence-led operations, and the deployment of task forces to combat drugs, weapons, and galamsey.
He argued that these achievements likely influenced the Police Council’s recommendation, “He is doing his best. If the President sees it worthy to extend his stay, so be it.”
On the part of Richard Kumadoe, he emphasised that “The Police Council has fulfilled all righteousness.”
Kumadoe noted that it is the President’s prerogative to appoint or extend the terms of senior officers, and the Police Council followed due process before recommending the extension.
He referenced an internal performance review he conducted weeks earlier, “I listed eight key performance indicators… When I saw the Police Council’s letter, I realised that six of the eight had been captured. We are looking at the institution through the same lens.”
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s review shows that documentation of IGP performance has historically been opaque. The Police Council’s criteria, though partially referenced in interviews, remain unavailable for public scrutiny.
IGP Yohuno’s two-year extension sits at the intersection of legal reform, institutional continuity, and internal tensions around promotion and succession.
What is clear is that extensions lack a legal basis. Historically, extensions were rare, Asante-Apeatu being the standout case.
The broader question remains whether Ghana should prioritise continuity in leadership or renewal within the ranks, a debate that will shape policing for years to come.
