Retired Police Officers Condemn Attack On Former IGP Patrick Acheampong

Praise for Former IGP Partrick Kwateng Acheampong

Retired senior police officers have praised former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Partrick Kwateng Acheampong. They commend his work at the Ghana Police Service. This comes after a report labeled him the worst IGP in Ghana's history.

The retired officers include Commissioner Bright Oduro and Commissioner Patrick Aklogo. Others are Commissioner Harold Agbenu, Deputy Commissioner Anderson Fosu Ackah, and Deputy Commissioner Kwesi Ofori.

DCOP Ofori highlighted Mr. Acheampong's role in the 2008 Presidential elections. He noted that the elections had three rounds of voting and were largely incident-free despite political tensions.

Mr. Acheampong introduced contemporary policing courses in training institutions. He also expanded police recruitment to rural areas, especially in Northern Ghana.

He developed strategic policies for community policing and performance management tools for assessments. His initiatives aimed to raise professionalism within the police force.

DCOP Ofori mentioned Mr. Acheampong's success with Public Private Partnerships (PPP). These partnerships led to constructing Cantonment flats and police offices. He also helped acquire Peugeot vehicles for the police service.

The introduction of camouflage uniforms was another initiative by Mr. Acheampong. Even after retirement, he continues to share knowledge with police personnel.

DCOP Fosu-Ackah stated that crime rates were low during Mr. Acheampong's tenure. He supervised a peaceful election in 2008 and organized a crime-free African Cup of Nations that year.

Mr. Acheampong extended detective training locations to Pwalugu in Upper East Region to reduce congestion at training schools in Winneba and Accra.

Commissioner Agbenu called Mr. Acheampong one of the best IGPs he has seen in over 25 years of service. He noted that Mr. Acheampong led significant refurbishments at the police hospital and provided mobile clinics.

Mr. Oduro questioned how anyone could label Mr. Acheampong as the worst IGP without proper research or evidence supporting such claims.

He argued that if Mr. Acheampong had not served well, he would have been removed from office before his retirement in 2009 as one of Ghana’s longest-serving IGPs.

Commissioner Akologo praised Mr. Acheampong for integrating civilian police into mainstream services, encouraging their education and advancement within the force.

In his 30 years with the police service, he considers Patrick one of the best IGPs he has encountered.

By George Kyei-Frimpong