Political Fallout looms over Ghana Police Service as Special Voting Nears 

As Ghana prepares for special voting tomorrow, December 2, 2024, tensions are rising within the Ghana Police Service (GPS). ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo (Rtd), a former senior officer who was accused, arrested, and tried for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Akufo-Addo government—but later acquitted by the courts after over five years of what he described as “persecution”—has ignited political and institutional debate with a bold Facebook post. In it, he claims that nearly 80% of GPS personnel are likely to vote against Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), citing widespread dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the police service.

Dr. Agordzo’s assertions highlight an undercurrent of dissatisfaction among police officers, directed primarily at the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, and the political structures that have supported his tenure. According to Agordzo, there is a growing sentiment within the GPS that the government and the Police Council, which oversee appointments and promotions, have ignored widespread complaints about Dampare’s leadership style.

Allegations Against Dampare’s Leadership 

The accusations against IGP Dampare are scathing. Dr. Agordzo claims to have interacted extensively with police officers over recent months, gathering grievances that paint a picture of a divided and disillusioned force. Among the criticisms leveled against Dampare are:

1. Selective Promotions and Postings: Allegations of favoritism and discrimination in personnel decisions have reportedly created resentment among officers.
2. Arrogance and Vindictiveness: The IGP is accused of fostering a culture of fear and retaliation, silencing dissent and sidelining officers he perceives as opponents.
3. Tribalism and Lack of Transparency: Complaints of ethnic bias in decision-making processes have fueled division within the service.
4. One-Man Rule: Dampare is accused of bypassing established structures such as Transfer Boards and Promotion Boards, contravening C.I. 76, which governs police administration.

A key point of contention is the alleged breakdown in relationships between the IGP and other senior officers, including the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP). Dr. Agordzo describes Dampare’s leadership style as a “terrorist administrative style,” which has demoralized the rank and file.

Political Implications 

Dr. Agordzo’s post suggests that the discontent within the GPS extends beyond internal grievances and has political ramifications. Many officers reportedly believe that voting against Dr. Bawumia and his party is their only avenue to prompt a change in leadership. The Vice President, as a member of the current administration, is perceived as a figure who might retain Dampare as IGP if his party wins the election.

The assertion that the Police Council has become a “rubber stamp” for Dampare’s controversial decisions further fuels the perception that the government is complicit in the status quo. This disillusionment is expected to manifest at the polls, where the GPS personnel’s votes could act as a protest against the administration’s perceived insensitivity.

Broader Context 

The rift within the police service comes at a critical juncture for Ghana’s democracy. Security agencies play pivotal roles in ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections, however, internal tensions and allegations of politicization within the Ghana Police Service increase concerns about morale and neutrality during the electoral process.

The allegations against IGP Dr. Dampare also bring into question the mechanisms of oversight within the Police Council and the government. Critics argue that political interference in security appointments undermines institutional independence and erodes public trust.

As special voting takes place tomorrow, the Ghana Police Service appears to be at a crossroads. Dr. Agordzo’s revelations suggest a force grappling with internal strife and political disillusionment, with potential ripple effects on Ghana’s political landscape. The extent to which police personnel’s grievances will translate into electoral outcomes remains to be seen, but the implications for governance and security in Ghana are undeniable.

Below is the full post made by ACP Agordzor on his Facebook Wall

AT LEAST 80% GPS PERSONNEL LIKELY TO VOTE AGAINST BAWUMIA DURING SPECIAL VOTING ON 2 DEC. 2024

I dont know about other security agencies, but I dare say that at least 80% of personnel of the GPS are more likely to vote against the powers that have continued to keep the current leadership of the GPS in place despite very numerous complaints.

Even though Dampare’s picture is not on the ballot, the perception in the GPS is that the powers that be, including the Police Council, have become insensitive to the plight of officers by supporting the “terrorist administrative style” of Dampare.

Many personnel in GPS that I have interacted with over the past few months, are of the view that the only means by which they could get rid of Dampare is to vote against those they describe as “insensitive appointers” who are likely to keep Dampare as IGP should they manage to win the election.

Police personnel I interacted with over the past few months accuse the IGP of unprecedented selective and discriminatory promotions and postings, vindictiveness, pettiness, tribalism, lack of transparency and extreme arrogance. Others point to the current enmity between Dampare and his DIGP as just one example of the many officers that IGP Dampare does not talk to. They also accuse the Police Council of becoming a rubber stamp to the selective and discriminatory promotions of Dampare. They accuse Dampare of running one man show by effecting transfers without Transfer Boards, and effecting promotions without Promotion Boards and Assessment Committees as mandated by C.I. 76.

Therefore, as GPS personnel vote on 2 Dec, 2024, it’s expected that at least 80% of all police personnel would vote against THE INSENSITIVE APPOINTING POWERS THAT ARE STILL KEEPING DAMPARE IN OFFICE, AND LIKELY TO KEEP HIM AS IGP SHOULD THEY WIN.

Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh