In his first remark since being asked to proceed on leave prior to his retirement – a subtle yet forceful exit from the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) which he headed – Bright Oduro has claimed unfairness.
He specifically pointed at National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah as being responsible for his early exit.
The minister, he explained, based his action on what Kennedy Agyapong said about him (Bright Oduro).
The top former cop, who has since handed over to his deputy, has cried foul, explaining that the action was unfair and that some personalities were behind what has befallen him.
COP Oduro, who retires in January, said he was pushed out after a campaign by Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, who insists that the top cop had a cozy relationship with land guards at East Legon, Accra.
He said he feels sad for cutting short his 29 years’ remarkable career in the Police Service.
The action of the Police Administration was premised on, according to him, misinformation and peddling of falsehood.
He was palpably referring to the assumption that his ouster had to do with the allegations of being knee-deep in land matters.
Breaking his silence since his ouster last Friday, COP Bright Oduro told Oman FM in Accra on Tuesday – confirming DAILY GUIDE’s report on the subject – that the action of the Police Administration was a breach of convention in the law enforcement system as officers stay at post till their last day in the service.
The retiring superior officer, who was due for retirement in January 3 next year, disagreed with the explanation from the Police Administration, pointing out that he was surprised when word reached him that he had to proceed on terminal leave as that was out of tune with what was planned for him initially.
His terminal leave, he added, should have commenced on August 30, 2017 but for the convention of staying on till the last day.
Continuing, he said that some of his colleagues had stayed on till the last day.
According to him, he assumed that the Police Administration had acquiesced to his request to stay on till the last day – January 3, 2017 – when no officer was asked to replace him.
“All other officers who retired recently used their leave to work, why is Bright Oduro alone to proceed on leave and hand over?,” he asked rhetorically.
“Whoever has taken that decision has not given me a hearing apart from in June thereabout, when I spoke to the deputy minister of the interior about it, otherwise no one has spoken to me on it,” he disclosed.
He flayed the Police Administration for not hearing his side of the story but rather dwelt on what he said are radio station complaints lodged against him – none of which he added, were formalized at the Police Headquarters.
COP Bright Oduro recalled how he had called the attention of the Police Administration to invite Kennedy Agyapong to come and lodge a complaint about him so that an investigation could be ordered into the allegations, but to no avail.
The land guard issue raised by Mr Kennedy Agyapong, he said, fell within the jurisdiction of the regional commander.
He expressed worry about why an allegation against him on land guards could be taken seriously without a hearing, when the issues raised fell within the jurisdiction of regional police commanders and that the CID boss only lends support.
“He [Kennedy Agyapong] has succeeded in letting me lose my job,” he lamented and added, “At least I’ve been told to proceed on leave without knowing my crime. I could have used my leave to work, more especially when no one has been appointed to take over.
“I am so proud of what I have done in the Police Service” he said, as he touted his achievements which he pointed out as the arrests of armed robbers Ataa Ayi, Kombian, Lone Ranger, and Baby Nii, among others.
He achieved these feats within his 29 years’ service.
Source:Dailyguideafrica