The book titled: "An Aroma of Policing, A Life of Service in Law Enforcement and Global Peacekeeping", was launched last Thursday in Accra.

The event was attended by a host of personalities, including some members of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Edward Doe Adjaho; the Minister of the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, a former Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey; former IGPs; members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), persons from academia and some justices of the Supreme Court.

In his remarks, Mr Alhassan said: "This book has been a labour of love - an idea that germinated long before I ever put pen to paper”.

He said after retiring as an IGP, he assumed that policing, both nationally and internationally, had become a closed chapter of his life.

But he said he was mistaken and that policing never truly left him.

"As you will discover in the pages of this book, my story is deeply rooted in heritage. My father was an Escort policeman.”

"I followed that path and walked in his footsteps. Growing up, policing was far from a popular or prestigious career. It certainly wasn't something I envisioned for myself. But fate has other plans," he said.

Mr Alhassan said the wearing of the police uniform should not be for visibility or power and that it must represent a personal commitment to law, justice and public trust.

He said every officer — be they constable, sergeant or senior command — had a role to play in restoring pride and professionalism to the service.

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, who was the guest speaker, said the book was a remarkable contribution to the national discourse on law enforcement, leadership and institutional transformation.

He said the event celebrated not only the life and service of a distinguished pubic servant but also a deeper national commitment to reflection and reform.

"The author, a former Inspector-General of Police and accomplished international peacekeeper, offered a candid and compelling account of career dedicated to public service, national security and the professional development of the Ghana Police Service," Mr Debrah said, adding that the memoir reminded all that crime prevention must be the bedrock of modern policing.

"We must shift from reactive policing to proactive strategies, grounded in visibility, intelligence-led operations and strong community partnership.”

"This requires rebuilding trust and expanding early warning across communities," he said.

Reviewing the book, a former Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Professor Vladimir Antwi-Danso, said the book, written in simple language, was a tell-it-all tale.

He said it was so compelling that one hardly got bored reading it.

Prof. Antwi-Danso said the book was segmented into 36 chapters with each of them dovetailing into the other seamlessly "in a manner that makes the reader remember earlier chapters read".

"I find this book to be not only scholarly but also a comprehensive mix of autobiography and narrative with a story and spelt out lessons," he said.

He endorsed the book and recommended it for police training and security studies.

For his part, the IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the gathering was not only to celebrate just the publication of a book but a journey of creativity, innovation and passion.

Reflecting on his career with the police and rising to the position of an IGP, "we recognise the tangible changes, monumental achievements and the lasting impact he has had on the service, shaping the future of policing in Ghana," the IGP said.

Mr Alhassan, he added, was a great man whose leadership was both visionary and practical and his legacy continued to bear fruit.

Launching the book, the Principal of the SDA College of Education, Asokore, Prof. Vincent Adzahlie-Mensah, said the ways in which the author navigated the challenges, drama of professional life and recounted it, capturing every aspect of professional and personal life, was a beautiful sight to behold in the book.

He recommended the book not only for the police but also for every minister, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executive, and regional ministers.

The Awomefia of the Anlo State, Togbui Sri III, a retired police officer who chaired the event, commended Mr Alhassan for being the first former IGP to document and share his experiences in his professional journey and deep insights into policing in the country.

"This is indeed a novelty worth celebrating," he said.