General Constable Polly John Issahaku
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) is reported to have summoned the policeman who has decided to meddle in politics.
General Constable Polly John Issahaku, who is stationed at the Flagstaff House, the seat of government, has endorsed the candidature of incumbent President John Dramani Mahama – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate – ahead of the 2016 general election, defying Service instructions and reported warnings by the IGP.
This was after Issahaku, who uses the Facebook name Manful-wura Adama Issahaku, and part of the presidential guard, acting like a real party foot soldier, decided to endorse John Mahama on his Facebook wall with the ‘I Choose JM’ logo designed in the colours of the ruling NDC – as captured in the Friday, July 22, 2016 edition of DAILY GUIDE.
But head of the Public Affairs unit of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, on Wednesday told DAILY GUIDE the IGP had taken up the matter.
“I just informed the IGP, and he has ordered for the Constable to be summoned for enquiries and necessary action,” he stated in response to queries by the paper.
Many who have interacted with him say Issahaku is an ardent supporter of the NDC and has no problem making this information public.
It is believed he got into the Police Service with his NDC connections, making it difficult for him to dissociate himself from the party.
According to reports, he allegedly engages in heated arguments with some of his colleagues who complain about the harsh economic conditions in the country.
At his previous station at Agogo in the Ashanti Region, it was an open secret that he was an NDC member since those who know him there call him ‘NDC policeman.’
Section 17 (d) of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), which talks about ‘Misconduct and Unsatisfactory Service’ states, “It shall be misconduct for a police officer to engage in any activity outside his official duties, which is likely to involve him in political controversy or to lead to his taking improper advantage of his position in the Police Service.”
This is part of the reasons why the PRO said it was completely wrong for any serving officer to engage in politics when DAILY GUIDE first sought his opinion on the matter.
“If anything at all, in their own closets, they may talk but it shouldn’t be in public view…that is wrong and when it comes to the notice of the administration, he will be sanctioned,” were his exact words.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu