The question on the minds of many Ghanaians is what led to the 'dismissal' of David Asante-Apeatu, former Inspector General of Police (IGP).
A statement from the presidency signed by Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, Monday said, “the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Monday 22nd July 2019, directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr. David Asante-Apeatu, to proceed on leave, with immediate effect, pending his retirement from the Ghana Police Service on Wednesday, 14th August 2019.”
The President has asked Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh, Asante-Apeatu's Deputy to act as IGP until a substantive one is appointed in accordance with the Constitution.
A Daily Guide report had suggested that he was asked to go on leave because he was surrounded by officials championing the course of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Recently David Asante-Apeatu's Executive Secretary, Chief Superintendent Peter Launchene Toobu resigned from the Police Service to contest as a parliamentary candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Wa West Constituency of the Upper West Region.
According to some political pundits, this led to the axing of the former IGP.
The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr in reaction, says he 'knows' the 'NDC factor' contributed to the sacking of Mr. Asante-Apeatu.
"The gentleman contesting for the NDC primaries who resigned: nobody can convince me that that was not a factor that led to this letter (proceed on leave letter). I know it was a factor and I disagree; it is a bad precedent," he said.
"You cannot know the political leanings of a person at a sitting or at a glance. Those in charge now do we know their political leanings? Really if you use that against him (IGP), it worries me . . . It’s an exercise that you don’t embark on, and when you do that it comes with so many repercussions. If we don’t watch out it will explode in our faces," he indicated.