Officers and men of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) are in jubilant mood. The euphoria, according to intelligence picked up by The Informer stems from the fact that the out-going Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, is set to emulate the trend set by his predecessor, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye.

What was Paul Quaye’s plan?

The immediate past IGP, Paul Tawiah Quaye, had set a precedent that no IGP in the history of the Ghana Police Service has ever thought up.

In fact, Mr. Paul Quaye took his terminal leave (3months) prior to his official retirement. The move some top officers of the service who spoke to this paper on the strict condition of anonymity have applauded so much.

According to them, that decision by the immediate IGP, will allow the succession plan to work; where those who have attained their statutory retirement age will give way for the younger ones to ascend to leadership positions in the service.

“The example set by Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye will also help to curb corruption that may have been occasioned by the actions and inactions of those in the helm of affairs, particularly those in the IGP rank,” one jubilant officer pointed out.

Asked why; he said, ‘if they (IGPs) are allowed to stay at post and work with their leave or given extension by way of contract, they are likely to engage in all manner of unprofessional activities of securing something substantial to hang-on when they finally leave the service, which eventually brings the image of the service into disrepute’.

“Their appetite for a new house and a car become heightened during their short stay in office, and so do not mind to engage in all manner of corrupt activities,” another senior officer revealed.

However, sources close to the current IGP have confirmed that, he (Alhassan) will follow what has been known as the “Paul Plan” of retirement.

The sources also revealed that Mr. Alhassan is likely to decline any contract offer from government since he has attained his statutory retirement age and is set to emulate the good example of his predecessor.

Nevertheless, sources close to the Presidency in a conversation with this paper, have denied media reports that Commissioner of Police (COP) Rose Bio Atinga could be appointed the next IGP.

The sources said “how can someone from the three Northern regions take over from an IGP who also comes from the three Northern regions”.