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The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has defended the decision to withdraw the Police Special Operations Taskforce from the Tamale metropolis in the Tamale in Ghana’s Northern Region.
The withdrawal of the unit, popularly known as the “Black Maria,” recently sparked protests by youth groups in Tamale, who demanded that the taskforce return and continue its crackdown on illicit drug activities in the city.
However, addressing members of the Special Operations Taskforce in Accra on Monday, March 9, the IGP explained that the unit is designed to carry out temporary assignments and is not intended to remain permanently in any particular location.
According to him, the team had already completed its mandate in Tamale, prompting the decision to redeploy it elsewhere.
“When you say a special team, it doesn’t become a permanent team,” Yohuno explained.
“You go somewhere, you perform your duties, leave the rest for the local police to do, and then you move on to another place.”
The police chief further noted that similar operations had previously been carried out in other parts of the country, including areas in the Ashanti Region, where the taskforce was deployed to support local law enforcement in tackling crime.
The protests in Tamale followed concerns among residents that the removal of the taskforce could weaken efforts to combat the growing drug trade in the metropolis.
Despite the concerns, the Ghana Police Service maintains that local police units are capable of continuing the fight against crime in the area while the Special Operations Taskforce moves on to other assignments across the country.
Authorities say the rotational deployment strategy ensures that multiple regions benefit from the specialised unit’s operations in tackling organised crime and maintaining public safety.
