A security expert at the Kofi Annan International Peace-Keeping Training Centre, Dr. Kwesi Ennin, has suggested the next Inspector General of Police be a non-police person. He said choosing a technocrat to lead the police will help to restore the battered image of the police. Dr. Ennin was reacting to media reports that senior police personnel are jostling for the top most position in the service. The Chronicle newspaper in its Monday, January 12, 2009 edition reported that about seven personnel have expressed interest in the position. Some of the names include Paul Quaye, Commissioner of Police in charge of Research and Development, DCOP Alhassan, Western Regional Police Commander, DCOP John Kudalor, Tema Police Commander and Dr. K. K. Marfo. The paper also mentioned DCOP Patrick Timbilla, DCOP Adu Gyimah and DCOP Dr. Peter A. Wiredu as some of the people lobbying for the job. But Dr. Ennin says although the applicants have impeccable credentials, giving the job to someone outside the police service will do the service a lot of good. “All these gentlemen are very fine but if I were to stick my neck out I think I would actually ask the president to choose a technocrat who would run the Ghana Police Service as a business. “If you look at the last couple of years and the crises within the service, we want someone who has not been tainted by the institutional culture of the organisation to be able to come in and take the drastic measures that are necessary to acquiring the public credibility that Ghana Police Service need,” he explained. Story by Malik Abass Service