A Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee says its time the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) boss stops running commentary on her interest in the soon-to-be-vacant post of the IGP.

James Agalga says, COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, should bid her time and not rush her way to the highest position in the Ghana Police Service.

“If I had the opportunity to advise her, I would have told her not to comment directly on the appointment of the IGP. If the lot falls on her, that’s fine, we would all support her.

“But right now, the comments she made relative to the position could comprise command and control assuming she is not appointed,” he said.

The Builsa North MP noted that if she is not appointed, things are likely to get complicated in the Service regarding how she will accept the orders of a new IGP.  

“This is not politics and she is not on a political platform so she should stop running commentary on the appointment of the next IGP,” he said.  

COP Maame Tiwaa has expressed interest in taking after David Asante Apeatu who will go on retirement soon. 

Builsa North MP, James Agalga

In a recent interview, she said if the President in consultation with the Council of State offers her the position, she is competent enough to lead the Service.  

She said suggestions that a woman cannot be an IGP is ridiculous. According to her, the position is not about gender but competence and knack to deliver.

The CID boss said if the appointing authority deems her fit to occupy the position, she will not think twice before accepting it.

“It does not matter if you are male or female, it is about competence,” she said.

Dismissing the gender arguments against women not ready to occupy the position, the former Deputy Defence Minister in the Mahama regime said it is a non-starter stressing, Elizabeth Mills Robertson once acted as IGP for the country.

Regarding, COP Maame Tiwaa’s latest u-turn comment about the whereabouts of the three kidnapped Takoradi girls, Mr Agalga said it is unfortunate it has brought the name of the police into disrepute.

According to him, as the head of Police CID, she is supposed to speak with tact even when she has all the facts not comment loosely on the matter and turn the whole Police Service into a laughing stock of the public.

Mr Agalga said it is part of intelligence gathering to get information wrong sometimes but was quick to point out that, there should be a critical information analysis before putting it out there.  

“She should be held accountable for the contradiction that has so far been recorded,” he said.