Exit Quaye, Enter Alhassan

While we congratulate Mr. Mohammed Alhassan for ascending the highest position in the country�s foremost internal security organization, we empathize with him over the hugeness of the challenges that await him. We appreciate the challenges staring him in the face as we do the vastness of his expertise in policing and above all his human relations which his colleagues and subordinates have attested to. His rich policing profile, locally and internationally, is evidence of his ability to confront the challenges head-on, their seeming formidableness notwithstanding. We are pleased that the seniority order has been adhered to by his appointment; something we advocated in an earlier write-up. If only we could maintain this format of managing such subjects we would have eliminated the challenges of indiscipline and morale-dampening actions by the appointing authority. The gentleman is assuming this onerous responsibility at a time when the security organization is passing through testy times. He has been accorded the opportunity to register his footprints in the history of the Ghana Police Service at the topmost position. The Ghana Police Service is an organization, which is viewed differently by different people in the country. Regardless of the varied impressions though, it forms an integral part of our society enforcing laws and ridding us of nuisance-unleashing miscreants of varied forms. If you think the police are useless try a police-less society, is the remark of someone during a discourse about the challenges of the police and we associate ourselves with the stance. Imagine a Ghana without law enforcement officers, hell would definitely break loose with the likes of the now incarcerated Atta Ayi straddling Accra and its environs like a colossus. Mr. Mohammed Alhassan�s wealth of experience represented by the decorations on top of his left breast pocket would definitely have a bearing on his performance providing also inspiration for the juvenile cops climbing the professional ladder of the Police. The success of his tenure would depend upon the cooperation he would receive, not only from his subordinates, but his colleagues at the top echelon of the Police and above all the citizenry, who can make and unmake him. We ask personnel to be generous with such support so that together they can change the image and fortunes of the police, something which would definitely impact positively upon the security situation in the country. Politicians would be enhancing our policing system by not unduly interfering in the professionalism of the Police Service as they have often done and ensuring that the morale of personnel in the regimented organization remains high. The success or otherwise of the gentleman, who now occupies the seat of IGP, would therefore hinge on how much cooperation he receives from his subordinates, colleagues, his compatriots in the civilian street and above all, and indeed, the most critical politicians at the helm.