Ethiopian Review

By Wudneh Zenebe

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA — The Federal Police Commission business process reengineering (BPR), which was implemented last week, has completely changed the structure of the commission and caused a mass reshuffle which may affect senior positions.

The BPR has been implemented at all levels, according to a senior official with the commission.

“Regarding senior officials, I cannot say anything with certainty other than that they might not retain their current positions,” this official said.

Those officials, whose positions are in question, according to this source, are Deputy Director Hassen Shifa and the six main department heads under him.

Previously the director’s position, which is occupied by Workneh Gebeyehu, was followed by one deputy director’s position, held by Hassen Shifa. Then there were six main departments, including crime investigation, headed by Tadesse Meseret, and Crime Prevention, headed by Girmay Kebede, both with the title of assistant commissioner.

Under the new system, the director’s position will remain, but there will be four deputy directors heading the Crime Investigation, Crime Prevention, Human resource and Education directorates. In descending order there will follow divisions, coordination offices and teams.

The Federal Police Commission has 30,000 officers under it. The Addis Ababa Police Commission, which used to be under the Addis Ababa City Administration, was transferred to the Federal Police when the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) won the 2005 election.

The city police force is currently undertaking its own BPR, which is expected to be completed in the coming months.

The Federal Police conducted their BPR in six groups assisted by the Ministry of Capacity Building and supervised by Director Workneh. The commission, housed in a 47 million Br 10-storey building at Mexico Square, has been in the process of modernisation.

The building has information technology infrastructure. It also has a modern forensic laboratory, complete with DNA testing equipment and a way to examine and verify fire-damaged documents. (Addis Fortune)