Security Expert at the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre, Dr. Kwesi Aning, has commended the Acting Inspector General of Police for the recent shake-up in the police service.

Dr. Aning says the changes by John Kudalor meet the security needs of the country and is a good move to provide security ahead of general elections in 2016.

“Taking into context the nature of the security situation in Ghana and West Africa and the challenges that the police service faces, I think Mr John Kudalor has made changes that respond to the challenges that we are facing,” he said.

John Kudalor

Twenty-nine changes at the police top hierarchy were announced Friday by the police administration. The changes are scheduled to take effect on December 1, 2015.

COP Rose Bio Atinga, Director-General/Administration is now the Director General, Research and Planning at the National Police Headquarters, a statement signed by the IGP, Friday indicated.

COP David Asante Apeatu who was Director General Research has been moved to the National HQ as Director General, ICT.

COP Ransford Ninson who heads the Central Region as Regional Commander has been moved to the National HQ as Director General, Administration.

COP Seidu Mohamadu Zakaria who was Director General, hospital now becomes the Director General, Medics at the National Police HQ, Accra.

Director General Public Affairs, DCOP Nenyi Ampah Benin now heads the Police Investigations and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS), with Supt. Cephas Arthur confirmed as Director of Public Affairs.

Motor Traffic Department, Director General, DCOP Awuni leaves Accra to become the Eastern Region Commander.

The Regional commanders for Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Volta, Western, Upper East and Upper West remain unchanged. However, the Central Region will have a new commander in the person of DCOP Yaagy Akuribah.

Dr Aning told Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng he expected some of the key changes that John Kudalor made.

“If you take the case of [COP Ransford Ninson] for instance, he is a very robust officer. He was an experienced Western Region Commander and in the last couple of years as Central Region Commander, and now as Director General Administration. You can’t get any better person than that,” said Dr Aning.

He said the changes by John Kudalor show he is “an operational hands-on man”.

“Going into election 2016 and the different areas in which he has placed these people, I think he has a clear understand of [the challenges] and how these people would help him to respond to them,” Kwesi Aning said.