A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Yaw Gyampo has described the appointment of new CID boss, ACP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah as a decision which is “not politically smart”.
According to Prof. Gyampo, ACP Addo-Danquah’s professional legitimacy and authority have been undermined considering the controversies surrounding her appointment as the CID boss.
In a facebook post, the lecturer explained that, even though he does not doubt the competence of the officer, he feels there are other equally competent and senior officers who could have been appointed for strategic reasons.
“This is a government that has been accused wrongfully or rightly to be staffed by family relations. To deal with this reality or perception, appointment powers must be exercised in a manner that clearly show a determination to shed this unfortunate tag,” he stated.
He further questioned how the ordinary Ghanaian who strongly believes there is a family relation between the new CID boss and the President would be made to understand the fact that the two are not related.
“My checks reveal that the new appointee is a Mrs and has no relations with the President. The point however is, how do you explain this to convince the ordinary Ghanaian who has no research information?” he queried.
Read the full statement below
This particular particular appointment is not politically smart. Anyone who tells me the executive has no hand in it may, to say the least, be displaying sheer political naivety.
The circumstances surrounding the appointment undermines the legitimacy and authority of the officer involved.
I do not doubt the competence of the officer. But I feel there were other equally competent and even more senior officers who could have been appointed for strategic reasons.
This is a government that has been accused wrongfully or rightly to be staffed by family relations. To deal with this reality or perception, appointment powers must be exercised in a manner that clearly show a determination to shed this unfortunate tag.
My checks reveal that the new appointee is a Mrs. and has no relations with the President. The point however is, how do you explain this to convince the ordinary Ghanaian who has no research information?
Sometimes it becomes politically wise to hold on to the appointment of people who bears the same name, not because they do not qualify, but because it is the smartest thing to do in order to scale over needless accusations of nepotism and “family relational politics”.
So, my issue has nothing to do with the woman’s competence. Rather, I am thinking about the negative perception it creates for the government’s image.
Another important issue that is worrying in Ghanaian politics is the tendency to appoint juniors to head seniors. In all Public Service Institutions whose heads are appointed by the President, there has always been the tendency to appoint lower ranks as heads.
Political appointment is the prerogative of the executive and he can decide to appoint anybody to any position. But, by-passing seniors and appointing juniors to head public institutions, could make the appointees easily pliable and manipulable by the appointing authority.
It makes them candidates for removal anytime power changes hands. It undermines their own legitimacy (the psychological belief that one is the rightful person to be appointed). Again, it becomes humanly quite difficult for the appointee to enjoy the support and cooperation from his superiors who might have felt humiliated and disappointed for not being appointed.
Max Weber speaks against these tendencies in his postulations on meritocracy in public service. You cannot head a public university as lecturer or even senior lecturer where there are full professors in active service, NEVER.
Let’s think about these in all sobriety as a nation.
Yaw Gyampo,
A31 Prabiw Street
PAV Ansah Street
Saltpond
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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A professor political science is telling us today that an appointment by the police I.G.P is a political appointment. So all the regional commanders that were moved from one region to the other were all political decisions. The police men and women who were recently promoted by the I.G.P were also politically motivated. Hmmmm... The professor by his second argument is even suggesting that Major Mahama may have been killed because of his name. After all the people of Denkyira Obuasi were against John Mahama. What frivolous argument to make. Its a shame how people who are supposed to know better disappoint us all by their sayings. ILLITERATE GRADUATES
Unfortunately you will not tell us who to appoint as CID Boss, Jampoh
shallow analysis by shallow thinking professor..... twea kai
Oh come on prof. your argument is totally flawed. The fact that they share a common name does not implies relation. I can think or Tony Blair as the British PM and Ian Blair as the MET police chief. Absolutely nothing wrong.
The level of intellectual deficiency amongst the intelligentsia in Ghana is alarming. How can a university professor make such lame arguments? You premise your augment on political incorrectness and go on a ***barred word*** about a totally different subject. The name issue and whether the ordinary Ghana understands or not is inconsequential. How many Konadus are in Ghana? If I am called Konadu, does it mean I am related to the former first lady? and why would anybody care about this if I am competent unless of course it is for political mischief. Why on earth would anybody compare promotion in the armed forces to the Academia when we all know that promotion in the armed forces is not necessarily merit based? The command in chief himself is a political figure which makes the system inherently political. If Nana wants he can just promote the lady to a "senior" rank and give her the position on top of it. Gyampo, if you were president wouldn't you appoint people you can trust? Particularly given our history of coup detats and how political our armed forces is? Come again!
Just because she bears the same with the President means they are related? come again. There are many political science professors in Ghana and I always wonder why our media people think Gyampo is the only political scientist to contact/consult. Most of his analysis and conclusions are shallow and you do not even need to be a political science student to think that way.
I know this woman is a great friend of a known armed robber Kwabena Amponsah Antwi Boasiako whom she protects on daily basis. Soon this will blow out on her. God is watching
This is not about Max Weber or any other political theory.As sensible lecturer you do not do streetism analysis.The president's name Addo Dankwa is his first name not his surname.How on earth can you a professor of political science stoop so low.You are rather not smart.