The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, has been granted a two-year extension of service.

This follows approval granted to a request by the Interior Ministry to the Vice-President for Mr Alhassan to stay in office to continue with his agenda of transforming the police service.

A November 8, 2013 letter signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr Raymond Atuguba, said, “the President has granted a two-year extension/continuation of service to Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan.”

In communicating that information to the IGP, the Interior Minister, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, in a letter dated November 11, 2013, explained that the approval was “as a result of the recommendation of this ministry which was wholeheartedly endorsed and ratified by the Police Council, which is chaired by the Vice-President, at its maiden meeting after its inauguration on November 11, 2013”.

It said it was “also all in recognition of the various innovations, initiatives and positive impact that you have brought to the Ghana Police Service since you joined the service”.

At the inauguration of the Police Command and Staff College in Winneba recently, the Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, extolled the performance of Mr Alhassan since he (Mr Alhassan) assumed office and said the Ghana Police Service had witnessed a number of positive developments.

Some of the innovations Mr Alhassan brought to the service include the establishment of the Police Command and Staff College, the Visibility, Accessibility and Patrol Department and the Formed Police Unit.

After the inauguration of the Police Council on Monday, Mr Amissah-Arthur indicated that the council would institute a new process for appointing the next IGP.

That, he explained, was to deal with the frequent sense of instability that accompanied the appointment of Inspectors-General of Police.

Before he was confirmed as IGP in June, this year, Mr Alhassan had been acting since February 5, this year, when the then IGP, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, proceeded on his compulsory 90-day terminal leave.

Mr Alhassan has garnered a wealth of experience in the service and risen through the ranks to his new position.

He has held many positions in the United Nations (UN), including advisor to the UN Secretary-General on police issues in 1999.

He also served as the UN Police Commissioner for Liberia and Sierra Leone before he returned to Ghana in 2002, to assume Command Operations of the Southern Sector.