Head of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) says she laughed it off comments that the country is not ready for a female to lead the police administration. 

Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah said the argument should go beyond the gender of who occupies the office, as men and women go through the same exams and training.

Speaking to Accra-based Atinka TV in celebration of Mother’s Day on Sunday, she said females who served as Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justices and Ministers of state, did a great job and getting a female IGP won’t be anything different.

“You hear people saying Ghana is not ready for a female IGP, so when will we be ready and what will show that we are ready,” she quizzed.

The Inspector-General of Police, David Asante Apeatu, gets set to retire in three months.

Ghana’s 28th IGP ends his extended service August 14, 2019, after his tenure was extended by a year in August 2018.

Read also: The 10 Police Commissioners who could be the next IGP

A former Director-General of the CID had said the post of the IGP comes with a lot of pressure which will be too much for a female IGP.

COP Bright Oduro (Rtd) believes due to the pressure that comes with the post, the country is not ready for a female IGP.  Related: Ex-CID boss criticises Maame Tiwaa's 'we-know-where-the-girls-are' commentBut COP Addo-Danquah disagrees. 

According to the CID boss, if the appointing authority feels that a woman is competent enough to be in that position, it will not be about the readiness of the country.

“We all have the same 24 hours and what distinguishes one person from another is how the leader is able to whip everyone in line and manages those they are leading.

“As an IGP, you depend on your officers, regional, divisional and district commanders, crime officers, those on patrol and others at the stations working.

“They are those on the ground working doing the work and your ability to manage your human resource makes you a very good leader,” she said.

COP Addo-Danquah said a leader’s success will come from appreciating their human resource and working to get the best out of them, stressing it has nothing to do with gender.

She will not tell the appointing authority to pass the post on when she is called to step up to the plate and be the IGP.

The CID boss stated that she is very capable and qualified for the position and will not disappoint the appointing authority if given the opportunity.