Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare
Rumours have it that the fate of the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, is at stake, with leading figures of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) calling for his head.
Reports by some media houses, including Asaase Radio, indicate that IGP Dr Dampare has already been relieved of his duties by President John Dramani Mahama.
These reports have led to some key personalities jumping to the defence of the head of the Ghana Police Service, cautioning the president against sacking the IGP.
These personalities have given varying reasons on why Mahama should not fire IGP Dampare.
Here are some of the personalities and the reasons for which they don’t want the IGP fired.
Franklin Cudjoe
The Founder and President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, is one of the personalities who has cautioned against the removal of IGP Dr Akuffo Dampare.
In a post shared on Facebook on March 12, 2025, Franklin Cudjoe indicated that the removal of Dampare would be completely wrong.
He asserted that the IGP is one of the few good men who must be protected.
“Well, difficult to know what to believe these days. It would be sad if someone who has been a true professional, risen through the ranks and changed the face of policing, enhanced our nation’s security and crucially survived all daggers from within and outside the service, would be relieved of his position without any adverse findings.
“We must insist on professionalism instead of extreme partisanship. There are few good men. Keep them when you find them,” he wrote.
Kofi Bentil
Kofi Bentil, a Vice President of IMANI Africa, has also cautioned against the removal of the IGP.
He argued that if Mahama removes the IGP, he (Mahama) would be repeating the same mistake made by his predecessor, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He described Dampare as diligent and professional and stated that he must be retained by President Mahama.
Bentil added that there is no justification for President Mahama to remove the current IGP, whose only “sin” is that he is doing a good job.
“We should try not to become what we criticised before. Domelevo was sacked for doing his job! The Supreme Court ruled it as wrong. What has the IGP done? Except for doing his job very well? I hope the NDC won’t repeat the evils of the NPP!!” he wrote in a post shared on Facebook.
A Plus
The Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Obeng Asare, popularly known as A Plus, who praised President Mahama for keeping IGP Dampare in office since assuming office, has questioned why people are calling for the IGP’s head.
He also argued that appointees of former President Akufo-Addo who are doing a good job must not be removed from office unjustly.
He added that Mahama, being an experienced president, would not bow to pressure to unjustly remove the IGP.
“When Akufo-Addo became president, he removed the EC boss and Auditor-General Domelevo, which weakened governance. Some people question why the NDC has won the elections and Dampare is still in office. We need to stop that. As we speak, some of Akufo-Addo’s appointees are still working because if you’re doing a good job, why should anyone sack you?
“Dampare is a tough leader who ensured free and fair elections. John Mahama, being an experienced president, will not listen to public pressure to fire people. Even if dismissals happen, they must be done properly to set a good precedent,” he stated in Twi in an interview on UTV.
Sam Okudzeto
Statesman, Sam Okudzeto, has also defended the retention of Dr Dampare as the head of the Ghana Police Service.
According to Okudzeto, a former member of the Council of State, the IGP has done nothing wrong to merit removal from his role.
He indicated that the IGP has been one of the best he has seen since Ghana’s independence and does not understand why people want him removed.
“I don’t even understand what they are even driving at. I have watched this country since independence, and if there has been any person who is level-headed and strict to do the right thing, it is the current IGP, Dr Dampare,” he said in an interview on 3FM.
BAI/AE
Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze:
Also, watch a compilation of today’s news in Twi here: