IGP bans all police leave for rest of year as service launches Operation Disaster-Free Christmas

Table of Contents

 

IGP Reportedly Bans Police Leave for Christmas — What’s the Truth?

There are growing claims that the Inspector‑General of Police (IGP) has issued a complete ban on police leave for the rest of the year, as part of a high‑security initiative dubbed Operation Disaster‑Free Christmas. According to these reports, officers will be on full duty through the festive season to prevent crime, manage traffic, and maintain public safety — but there is little clear evidence to confirm this claim in 2025.

Historically, suspending police leave at Christmas is not a new tactic in Ghana. Back in 2018, then‑IGP David Asante‑Apeatu suspended leave for all police personnel ahead of the holiday season, citing the need to “beef up security” and ensure an “incident‑free” Christmas and New Year. GhanaStar That decision was officially covered by major Ghanaian news outlets. Graphic+1

Today, however, the Ghana Police Service is led by IGP Christian Tetteh Yohunu, who assumed office in March 2025. Wikipedia While there have been recent reports about internal reforms — including his lifting of communication restrictions with the media to encourage more transparency — there is no public statement confirming a leave ban or such a “Disaster‑Free Christmas” operation. The Ghana Report+1

Some analysts suggest that the narrative of a leave ban is likely exaggerated or misreported. It is possible that what is being described as “Operation Disaster-Free Christmas” is a mischaracterization of regular heightened security measures. Indeed, during festive seasons, Ghana’s police often deploy more officers on patrol and enforce traffic regulations more strictly — a pattern that was praised in 2024 when increased deployment reportedly helped reduce accidents during Christmas. Pulse Ghana

On the other hand, there is reported discontent within the police force. According to The Herald, some officers claim that IGP Yohunu has “disregarded retirement protocols” and kept senior officers in active service beyond the point where they would normally go on terminal leave. The Herald ghana+1 This has fueled speculation that leave policies may be changing in ways that are not being made fully transparent. But these reports do not specifically mention a total ban for the festive period.

From a legal perspective, the Police Service Act does give the IGP broad authority over duty assignment and leave approval. Police and Human Rights Resources Still, any formal directive such as suspending leave should ideally come with public communication to avoid misinformation or panic — especially when the welfare of officers is concerned and when public safety is on the line.

So, what should the public make of these claims? At this point, it looks more like a rumor or a misinterpretation than a confirmed order. Without an official statement from the Ghana Police Service or IGP Yohunu, it is risky to accept the “leave ban” narrative at face value. But the fact that similar leave suspensions have happened before means the claim isn’t baseless either.

In conclusion, there is not enough reliable evidence to confirm that the IGP has banned all police leave for a so-called Operation Disaster‑Free Christmas in 2025. While heightened policing during the festive season is expected, a full leave freeze remains unverified. For the sake of transparency and public trust, it would be wise for the Ghana Police Service to clarify its policy publicly.