There is growing uncertainty over the legitimacy of the purported two-year post-retirement contract of Christian Tetteh Yohuno, as Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Ghana Police Service.

A letter, widely circulated on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, allegedly signed by Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, announced Yohuno’s continued stay in office on the recommendation of the Police Council, chaired by Vice-President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang. The Vice-President was out of the country when the letter surfaced.

However, several anomalies have raised suspicions that the document may be fake or even AI-generated. Dr Callistus Mahama is said to have denied issuing any letter granting a post-retirement contract to the IGP, who turns 60 on 27 December 2025, although some claim he has long since passed that age.

Observers noted spelling errors, including “Police” written as “Polce”, and questioned the letterhead, with Ghana’s Coat of Arms appearing unusually cloudy compared to official presidential correspondence.

 The Secretary’s signature also appears inconsistent with previous documents, while the reference number, OPS/08/25/3756, bears a close resemblance to that used in Yohuno’s original appointment to replace Dr George Akuffo Dampare.

The situation has been compounded by the government’s silence on the matter. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, who signed the 13 March 2025 letter dismissing COP Dampare and appointing Yohuno, has not issued any statement regarding the post-retirement contract.

Similarly, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who oversees the Police Service, has remained silent despite previously voicing concerns over the crime rate under Yohuno’s leadership.

At a press conference in Accra on 18 November 2025, Minister Mubarak reported that, as of July 2025, Ghana had recorded 628 armed robbery cases and 340 murders, compared to 1,219 robberies and 552 murders in 2024. Sounding rather unhappy with the current Police administration.

Meanwhile, officers at Police Headquarters expressed surprise at the absence of celebrations over the alleged contract. Some joked that the champagne and other drinks brought by well-wishers after the media blitz were taken home by the IGP himself.

Reports suggest that the media bombardment was preceded by lobbying, the distribution of money to selected journalists, and promises of funding for front-page coverage.

The Herald has also received reports of emergency meetings at the Presidency to trace the source of the letter. In one meeting attended by Yohuno, he was reportedly instructed to ensure the letter was withdrawn.

President John Dramani Mahama is understood to be opposed to post-retirement contracts for public servants. According to insiders, he remains firm on his earlier statements in Parliament and by Dr Callistus Mahama that granting such contracts would undermine his reputation for keeping promises.

Yohuno, who previously served as Deputy IGP under Dampare during the Akufo-Addo administration, was appointed IGP under the 1992 Constitution’s Articles 91 and 202, in consultation with the Council of State.

The original appointment, announced by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, highlighted Yohuno’s four-decade-long career in the police service and his expected role in modernising the force, improving public trust, and enhancing national security.

Despite his experience, analysts and security experts note that significant improvements are still required. Regional police commands largely remain as deployed by Dampare, while violent crimes continue to rise.

In response, the government has introduced a Gun Amnesty, described by Minister Mubarak as a “bold and compassionate initiative” to reduce illicit firearms and improve public safety.

“The statistics are not looking good at all. In 2024, there were 1,219 reported robbery cases and 552 murder cases. As of July this year, the statistics from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Ghana Police show that half of the year alone, we have already had 628 cases of armed robbery and 340 murder cases respectively,” he said.

“All of these people used violent means to achieve this, and the use of illicit arms,” he added.

This will be a decisive step towards reducing the country’s rising crime rate. The government, after extensive consultations with the Ghana Police Service, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, security agencies, traditional leaders, religious organisations, and civil society groups, has announced a Gun Amnesty.

Described by the Minister as a “bold and compassionate initiative,” the amnesty aims to reduce the number of illicit firearms in the country and enhance public safety.

According to the Minister, the initiative will provide an opportunity for individuals in possession of illicit firearms to surrender them without facing any prosecution, in a bid to prevent further violent crimes.

Minister Mubarak stressed the importance of community cooperation in making the initiative a success, urging citizens to participate actively and help create a safer Ghana for all.

The Ministry is also moving to restrict the use of arms during cultural celebrations, announcing plans to engage traditional authorities in training to enforce a firearms ban during festivals.

As the debate over Yohuno’s alleged post-retirement contract continues, the government has yet to issue an official clarification, leaving the public and the police service in suspense.

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