Renowned security analyst Adam Bonaa has expressed concerns over any potential reassignment of Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah to sensitive positions within the Ghana Police Service.
Speaking on StarrToday with host Efia Tutuwaa Danso, Bonaa cautioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) against entrusting COP Addo-Danquah with critical responsibilities, citing past controversies surrounding her performance.
“I wouldn’t want to second-guess the IGP. He is capable of making decisions regarding officer assignments. However, respectfully, someone like her should not be placed in very sensitive departments within the Police Service because of her record. If you put her in charge of sensitive areas, you risk creating more problems,” Bonaa stated.
He highlighted the challenges surrounding COP Addo-Danquah’s tenure as the Director of Welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by intense criticism from police officers regarding the quality of meals provided to them. Officers publicly decried the distribution of substandard and, in some cases, rotten food. Bonaa argued that this failure in welfare management reflected poorly on her leadership and called into question her suitability for high-stakes roles.
“The police officers were angry and vocal about the poor quality of the food provided during COVID-19. She was the director in charge of welfare at the time, and the incident was a clear failure in ensuring proper standards. If you assign someone with such a track record to critical positions, you are likely to encounter even bigger problems,” he remarked.
Bonaa suggested that COP Addo-Danquah be reassigned to roles with less operational significance, allowing her to serve the remainder of her career without jeopardizing the service’s integrity.
COP Maame Tiwaa Addo-Danquah is a senior police officer with over two decades of experience in law enforcement. Her career has seen her serve in various capacities, including the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Director of Welfare within the Ghana Police Service.
However, her tenure has been marred by controversies. One of the most notable incidents was her handling of the Takoradi kidnapping case, where three girls were abducted. In 2019, COP Addo-Danquah publicly announced that the police had located the missing girls, only for it to emerge later that this was untrue. The incident sparked widespread outrage and eroded public trust in the CID.
In her role as Director of Welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic, she faced further criticism over the management of resources meant for police officers. The provision of low-quality food to officers deployed on duty during the crisis led to public outcry, with many questioning her oversight and competence.
Despite the controversies, COP Addo-Danquah has continued to hold senior positions within the service. However, her track record has sparked debates on whether she should be entrusted with sensitive roles in the future.
