The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has urged young people across Ghana to reject the growing temptation for quick and unethical paths to success and instead recommit themselves to discipline, dedication, and patriotism. He made the call during the 68th Speech and Prize-Giving Day and Homecoming celebration of Okuapemman Senior High School on Saturday, November 15, 2025.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme “Reconnecting with Our Core Principles of Discipline, Dedication, and Patriotism: Inspiring Hope in the Younger Generation,” the IGP—an alumnus of the school—reflected on how his formative years at Okuapemman SHS between 1980 and 1982 shaped his journey to becoming Ghana’s top police officer.
With nostalgia, he recounted his early ambition of becoming a medical doctor and the challenges of pursuing science education during the turbulent post-1981 coup era, including severe shortages of teachers. Despite setbacks, he said, perseverance redirected him toward a successful career in accounting and later policing, a lesson he urged students to embrace.
“Life may not always unfold as you planned, but every experience has a purpose,” he noted. “When one door closes, another opens—and sometimes the alternate route leads you to your true destiny.”
Mr. Yohuno expressed concern over rising youth involvement in cybercrime, drug abuse, violent offences, and gambling addiction in the pursuit of fast money. He warned that many promising young people are derailing their futures because of impatience, stressing that shortcuts only lead to destruction.
He commended ongoing national efforts to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), encouraging students to take their studies or chosen vocations seriously.
Highlighting reforms within the Ghana Police Service, the IGP spoke proudly about the Service’s modern direction—recruiting professionals from diverse fields and strengthening international partnerships. He cited the growing collaboration with the New York Police Department (NYPD), including an exchange programme between Accra and New York for joint training in technology-driven policing and counterterrorism.
Turning to patriotism, the IGP mourned the recent tragic stampede at the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise at El-Wak Sports Stadium, which claimed six lives. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and called for urgent reforms to ensure safe and dignified recruitment processes across all security services.
He reminded parents, teachers, alumni, and community leaders of their shared responsibility to shape a generation grounded in values. “Together, we can cultivate a disciplined, dedicated, and patriotic youth who will carry forward the torch of national progress.”
Mr. Yohuno congratulated all award winners and encouraged the rest of the students to aspire higher. He emphasized that discipline is the foundation of every successful life and urged them to walk their paths with integrity and love for the nation.
“May God bless Okuapemman School,” he concluded, “and may God bless our beloved nation, Ghana.”
