Kudalor is right person to deal with extremist groups – Aning

With the emergence of political vigilante groups as well as threat from extremist groups in the country, the appointment of COP John Kudalor as Ag. IGP is apt to counter the activities of these groups, security analyst Dr. Kwesi Aning has said.

According to him, COP Kudalor’s experience in the Ghana Police Service is something that cannot be wished aside in dealing with security challenges facing the country.

“His occupational experience is so key in terms of the challenge we are facing now, local mobilization and potential infiltration of our society by violent extremist groups, small arms is still a problem, rising political tension is a problem,” he evaluated.

COP John Kudalor, who was Director General of Police Operations, has about 20-year wealth of experience in the police service and was in charge of monitoring the 2012 general elections.

He replaces the current IGP Mohammed Alhassan who begins his accumulated leave as he prepares to go on retirement.

Dr. Aning told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FM’s Newsnight Monday that Mr. Kudalor’s appointment was a “fairly predictable choice”. There were indications way back that suggested he would succeed Mohammed Alhassan, he explained.

Even though several other officers including suspended COP Patrick Timbilla in the recruitment scandal and COP Rose Bio Atinga were equally qualified for the position, Kudalor stood tall amongst them.

“But for the political horse trading that went on before the appointment…he was penciled in quite some time; he has done a great job. I think it would have been quite difficult for any other officer to have succeeded John Kudalor in this sense,” he added.

“Although there may be one or two officers who are seniors to him, but I don’t expect that will cause any rumpus in the service,” Dr. Aning said.

He however charged COP Kudalor to put his act together and get clear impression about how to deal with security problems in the country.

He also called on political and civil think tanks to assist him to succeed in his new role.