Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan is a very lucky person. But Madam Luck cannot just fall on your lap when you do not position yourself to embrace her when she offers herself. And so it happened that barely a year to the end of his career as an accomplished senior police officer, an opportunity offered itself.
Call it luck, but Mr Alhassan was at the right place at the right time. He took office as Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in an acting capacity when Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the incumbent, proceeded on leave prior to retirement.
Mr Alhassan, having been appointed the acting IGP, could just have made time, having entered the history books as having acted as the Chief Constable of the Ghana Police Service and exit when the time is due.
Instead, within a short period, the acting IGP registered his presence as one of those who do not want to be a mere part of history but somebody who wants to be relevant as a maker of history.
The outlook of the police started to take a dramatic turn and suddenly Ghanaians, especially those in Accra, the national capital, and other major towns and cities began to see the police presence in multiple numbers on the streets near their homes and offices.
This is not the result of any massive recruitment into the service within this short time. It is as a result of a major policy shift in police duties. The core business of the police, Mr Alhassan opined, was crime prevention. The best way, therefore, to prevent crime, he said, was to make police presence to be felt among the population.
There is nothing as crime eradication, but except those who are extremely criminally inclined, the majority of the people would be cautious, knowing they are under the constant lenses of the watchful eyes of the police. Secondly, the general public will feel confident while going about their business, knowing they are safe with the police close by offering them their maximum protection.
So, instead of keeping many men and women in uniform doing administrative duty, the Alhassan administration felt they should be on the streets and in the neighbourhoods where their services were needed.
The visibility of the police was what announced the arrival of a new command at the police headquarters. The initial reaction to the change should be expected, but it did not take long for the policemen and women to realise their relevance in law enforcement and crime prevention.
Mr Alhassan's reforms were so swift and result-oriented that Mother Luck smiled at him again. In June, this year, he was confirmed the substantive Inspector General of Police but he was not expected to hold that office for even a year as his retirement was due in January, 2014.
As stated earlier, once you position yourself very well, what we refer to as good luck, which is actually the prize for good judgement, dedication, hard work and recognition would come your way. And Mr Alhassan hit the jackpot well for positioning himself well, which is unprecedented. A few months to retirement, the government extended his stay for another two years.
There were people who raised legal and constitutional issues with that decision. There was some internal squabbling also, which could be expected. But with the overwhelming endorsement from a general public who see a new Police Service that is operating, not from some dark corners but in their full glare and an internal core of officers and men and women in uniform whose confidence has soared, those small pockets of resistance crumbled without notice.
The Ghana Police Service now has a Staff and Command College to bridge the gap between the middle and the top echelons of the service; a project that had been on the drawing table for over 30 years.
The fragmented nature of certain institutions in the service that operate in parallel lines without any serious co-ordination is also to be tackled to reduce bureaucracy and conflict of interest.
The new administration knows, as always, that a few miscreants would want to bring the service into disrepute. The new IGP has, therefore, introduced reforms, including a new dress format that would clearly identify, by name and service number, all police personnel on official duty.
The training regime in the service is also to be streamlined and standardised and the number of training centres reduced to ensure that once you belong to the service, there is uniform standard expected of every member.
It is early days yet, but Mr Alhassan's reforms, which are captured under a common theme ‘Proactive Policing’, should be supported by all, especially the government that has endorsed the extension of his service, apparently because of the prospects it has for the police service in particular and the country as a whole.
We have title holders in abundance in the country. What we lack most and which has seriously affected the progress of this country is quality leadership that is prepared to confront challenges and leave visible marks in the sands of history. Any office holder showing signs of making a difference in the status quo must be given the necessary support to deliver.
To IGP Alhassan, we wish him well and urge him to maintain the momentum and even step harder on the accelerator, lest those who have placed so much trust in him will feel disappointed.
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